By Will Eudy
August 4, 2026
Photo: Rick Scuteri / AP
If you’ve been paying attention to NBA chatter in recent weeks, there’s been a dramatic surge in conversation surrounding the future of one Charlotte native: Stephen Curry.
The discourse began when The San Francisco Standard’s Tim Kawakami mentioned on his podcast that, “What Lacob [Warriors owner] wants to do — and this might get Warriors fans mad — is he wants to build the next team after Steph Curry.”
The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson II suggested there may be growing frustration between Curry and the Warriors’ front office, noting that Curry could be “tired of the star chasing” as the franchise navigates its post-dynasty future.
The comments have fueled speculation among NBA fans that a split between the greatest shooter of all time and Golden State could potentially be on the horizon. It’s a highly intriguing thought for Hornets fans who have dreamed of seeing the four-time NBA champion, two-time league MVP, and 12-time All-Star in the purple and teal. Because if there’s one team that Curry has strong connections to and that could provide a storybook farewell tour, it would be the Hornets.
In case you forgot, the Hornets are in the middle of a bit of a reshuffling right now. After trading LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges in the offseason, it feels very much like a changing of the guard and culture. There’s some wavering excitement among the fanbase, but what better way to improve morale than by bringing in an all-time great like Curry, whose father Dell’s jersey hangs in the rafters and who would gladly give the number to Steph if it ever came to fruition.
The Contract Timeline
It would certainly be a bold, franchise-shifting move, and perhaps one that isn’t as antithetical to Charlotte’s long-term plans as some might believe. However, a lot would undoubtedly go into the Hornets’ decision if they opted to seize the moment and pursue it.
The first of several factors would hinge on Curry’s current contract situation. He is signed through the 2026-27 season after inking a one-year deal with Golden State worth $62.6 million back in August 2024. Following this upcoming season, if he were to play out the contract and become an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career, there’s no telling what he’ll end up doing. He could sign another big contract with the Warriors or take a pay cut with another team if he truly values winning another championship above all else.
Curry is eligible to sign a two-year maximum extension with the Warriors worth $136.7 million starting on August 29, and according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, there’s “mutual interest” between him and Golden State in getting a deal worked out.
One has to wonder how much Curry’s desire to finish his career with the franchise that drafted him weighs against his desire to compete for another championship with a more talented roster. Or perhaps, whether a return to Charlotte — where his basketball journey began — could become part of his final chapter.
Paths to Acquiring Curry For The Hornets
That brings us to how exactly the Hornets might go about turning the dream into a reality. With Curry currently in extension talks and his future after next season up in the air, it would be highly unlikely Jeff Peterson and company would try to pull off a trade before the deadline this season. We’ve seen this front office make some gutsy moves, and the Hornets currently hold a substantial $40.7 million trade exception, but the proposal would make little to no sense, as they would need to part with multiple draft picks and players. But after this season? It becomes a different conversation entirely.
The most realistic path for Curry to come home to Charlotte would be through free agency — a scenario similar to LeBron James this offseason — where he and the Warriors do not extend his contract, allowing him to weigh his options and choose his next destination. It seems doubtful that Golden State would simply part ways with Curry — who remains a highly productive player and the league’s best three-point shooter — receiving nothing in return by allowing him to reach free agency.
But if the stars align and Curry decides Charlotte is where he wants to finish his career, the opportunity would be there. Closer to his family, his alma mater, and the three restaurants he and Ayesha have invested in (Sweet July Café, The Eighth Rule, and Bourbon Steak), the move would bring his basketball journey full circle. It would also undoubtedly be the biggest free-agent signing in franchise history and one of the most significant sports moments North Carolina has ever witnessed.
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Would Steph Consider Charlotte?
The paramount question is: would Curry truly consider signing with the Hornets? He has hinted at it in the past, including in 2022, when he attended a ceremony where he was given a key to the city of Charlotte. While discussing his career, he entertained the idea of playing for the Hornets.
“I’m not making any promises,” Curry said after the audience cheered at the thought. “All I would say though is, if there was a team that I did want to play for that was not named the Warriors, that [Hornets] would be it.”
He mentioned during the speech that he’s been asked about it several times, and while he has likely pondered the idea of donning the same No. 30 his father wore at the old Coliseum, where he and his brother practically grew up, the option could now present itself.
From the Hornets’ side of things, acquiring a player like Curry would impact the franchise in multiple ways: landing one of the city’s prodigal sons, becoming a legitimate title contender with the flexibility to make more moves, and lighting a white-hot fire under this passionate fanbase.
Seeing Curry become a Charlotte Hornet would be more than enough to justify the years of frustration this fanbase has endured. It’s a move that makes a lot of sense for both sides — an intersection of legacy, opportunity, and timing. As time passes, and with each day after August 29 that he doesn’t sign an extension with the Warriors, the stars will only continue to align.
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