Heading into next season, many might doubt the Warriors‘ chances of being a championship-contending team. Their current roster and over-reliance on Stephen Curry brings a big question mark. Despite the Warriors’ acquiring veterans like Buddy Hield, Kyle Anderson, and De’Anthony Melton, these additions don’t immediately signal a championship run for most, probably also because the front office missed out on big names and lost Klay too. However, Steph, the talisman of everything Warriors, remains hopeful.

Steph was asked how comfortable he felt about his team’s current position after missing out on Paul George and Lauri Markkanen. He explained how the Warriors approached free agency and potential trades, mentioning that he was involved in the discussions around Paul George‘s decision to opt in or out of his contract. PG, on his part, was open to joining, but the talks fell through. “It’d been dope, man. I was looking forward to it, if it happened,” the former Clipper shared.

Coming back to the Media Day, even with the current roster, Stephen Curry remains optimistic about the upcoming season. He said, “All 3 guys that we brought in, all are veterans, Buddy, Kyle, and Mel like established veterans who know how to play the game and are good pieces that you need to be a championship-type team. Does that mean we’re there? I don’t know.”

“You asked all 30 teams last season, ‘Do you have Championship aspirations?’ you probably take 8 of them serious. 12 of them you like, ‘Maybe,’ and only one gets to say ‘Yeah, we had Championship aspirations.’ So, I think we’re in that position where we can be a relevant team early, give ourselves a chance to compete, and then assess where we are,” Stephen Curry confidently asserted.

The Splash Brother spoke like a true leader, giving credit to the team and front office for their efforts this offseason. However, despite his words, there seems to be an underlying feeling that Stephen Curry might be carrying more weight this season, especially with no major offensive support like Paul George or Lauri Markkanen, both of whom the Warriors missed out on. The Finnish star’s trade was close to becoming a reality, but it ultimately fell apart because GSW was unwilling to give up one of their promising young players.

Warriors’ front office reluctant to include Brandin Podziemski in the Markkanen deal, is that really a bad thing, though?

The Golden State Warriors came incredibly close to landing Lauri Markkanen, who averaged over 23 points and 8 rebounds—a player who could have been a worthy second option behind Steph Curry. However, the deal ultimately fell through because the Warriors were unwilling to part with 21-year-old Brandin Podziemski. According to Kendra Andrews of ESPN, talks with the Utah Jazz “diminished” when Utah insisted on including Podziemski, a rising star and All-Rookie First-Team selection, along with multiple draft picks.

via Imago

The Warriors’ refusal to part with Brandin Podziemski, along with other young talents like Jonathan Kuminga, places even more weight on Stephen Curry’s shoulders. Now 36, the window for another championship run is narrowing, and the burden falls on the sharpshooter to carry the team offensively, with capable young guns like Kuminga or Wiggins likely stepping in as the second option. Andrew, for those wondering, is back in training after dealing with personal situations off the court.

While Podz is a promising talent, Stephen Curry’s clock is ticking, and without a star like Lauri Markkanen or Paul George to provide the support he needs, the pressure mounts on him to do it all. A player like PG or Markkanen would’ve made a significant difference, easing his load in the backcourt. Yet, with those trades falling through, the veteran remains hopeful. The rumor mill went bonkers after the Olympics as it even linked Steph to team up with LeBron, which could’ve even meant a move either way for either star.

But from the outside, the Warriors don’t quite look like championship contenders at the moment. Time will tell if Curry and Co. can defy the odds, but for now, it seems like the weight of another title run isn’t equally distributed on a duo or trio of shoulders anymore in the Bay Area. Even though the Lakers are in a similar boat, Rob Pelinka can at least place some hope in AD and D’Lo to support LeBron James on the hardwood for most games with additional support from Rui and Reaves…

But what about the Warriors? Thoughts?