The Golden State Warriors are entering a pivotal offseason where their top three players, including a franchise icon, could be free agents at the end of the year.

The Warriors have been the premier team over the last 11 seasons, but much of that success was during the first four seasons. In the last four seasons, they have missed the playoffs twice and haven’t advanced past the second round in their other two playoff stints.

Entering his 18th season in the league, all with the Warriors, Steph Curry is still playing at an All-Star level, and fans want to see him back on the biggest stage before he calls it a career.

After an offseason of rumors but no evidence, the Warriors enter the 2026-27 season looking similar to last season, when they finished 10th in the West and lost in the second play-in game.

On NBA Today, former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins weighed in on the future of Steph.

“Steph needs to be planning his exit strategy from the Golden State Warriors. Not this year, but think about it: Over the last four years, the Warriors have been in the play-in tournament. And guess what? This year, the way that the West has stacked up? They’re going to be a play-in tournament team again.

“So, if you’re Stephen Curry, going on the age of 39, and you look at this roster knowing that you have four NBA championships and knowing what a championship roster looks like, you can’t waste any more time hoping and thinking that Mike Dunleavy is going to get it right or make the moves that’s needed to make sure you’re able to compete for a title, especially in a tough Western Conference.”

Perkins added that he wants Steph to finish his career in a Warriors uniform, but he also wants to see Steph Curry playing meaningful basketball.

The Warriors tried to improve the team in the offseason as they were in talks with LeBron James, and reportedly were interested in acquiring Jaylen Brown or Anthony Davis to further their standing in the LeBron sweepstakes.

Nothing materialized, and in the end the Warriors re-signed Draymond Green, Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis, Gary Payton II, and De’Anthony Melton.

Only if he asks to be.

The Warriors won't trade the face of the franchise unless he explicitly asks out. Trading him without his consent would turn the entire fanbase against them, and the fanbase already isn’t happy with the lack of urgency over the last four seasons.

The return they get for Steph won’t be equal to the value he provides on and off the court.

The Warriors want to compete with Steph, and they have tried to land a big star in recent seasons. The acquisition of Jimmy Butler went well until Curry got hurt in the 2025 playoffs and Butler tore his ACL in January.

They will keep building around Curry until he retires or decides he no longer wants to be in Golden State.