Joe Lacob shuts down Stephen Curry trade rumors: 'People are completely making a bunch of crap up'

Joe Lacob kills the Stephen Curry trade talk before it even starts

Stephen Curry has made no secret of his wish to spend his entire career in one uniform, and the Warriors have echoed that sentiment right back at him. So when Golden State's summer plans fell apart no LeBron James, no major roster splash the rumor mill kicked into gear. Curry is entering the final year of his contract without an extension, and that alone was enough for speculation to spiral about whether the Warriors might actually consider moving him.

Warriors Governor Joe Lacob wasted no time putting that theory to rest, appearing on The TK Show with Tim Kawakami, as detailed by Dylan Grausz and Kevin Topley of NBC Sports Bay Area.

"No, no, no. I don't think that is even a thing. This is just a clickbait thing from all these people that do this kind of thing these days, and there seem to be a lot of them," Lacob said. "I don't believe any of that is true. I'm very close with Steph — he lives right near me, he's incredibly happy with the organization, with his life… I've never heard a word about that, and I can't imagine it. We certainly don't want him to go anywhere. I just think people are completely making a bunch of crap up."

Behind the scenes: two big offers that didn't pan out

The frustration fueling the trade chatter isn't unfounded the Warriors really have tried to swing for the fences and come up empty multiple times. Golden State pursued Giannis Antetokounmpo, engaged in trade talks with the Clippers over Kawhi Leonard around last February's deadline, and this summer chased LeBron James. None of it materialized.

Lacob opened up about just how close some of those deals got, without naming names. "We have to make a good trade, we have to make a trade that makes sense. If we thought we had a great trade in front of us and by the way, without talking a little bit too much more than I should about secret dealings that went on in the offseason we made at least two very big offers in the last six months, let's put it that way. Between the trade deadline and the summer, at least two... They didn't work out, the cost was too high to be justifiable or we weren't selected. These things happen. I've told all of our fans from day one, we're going to go after pretty much anybody who is a good player and check it out."

Lacob pushes back on the pessimism surrounding this roster

Despite the missed swings, Lacob isn't buying into the negativity surrounding Golden State heading into the season. Once Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody return from injury, he believes this group can still be a real threat in the West.

"I'm actually excited about our team. I don't understand what all the negativity is about," Lacob said. "There are those out there that are very critical, of course, about everything. Everyone has an opinion. They have the right to their opinion — at least we're being talked about."

What's next: a franchise already eyeing life after Curry

Even as Lacob insists Curry isn't going anywhere, the bigger picture tells a more complicated story. Curry's current deal runs through the 2026-27 season, and reports indicate the Warriors' front office is already quietly mapping out what the roster looks like once his contract expires. That's not the same as shopping him now, but it shows the organization is thinking beyond its longtime franchise centerpiece.

The roster around Curry is also shifting in ways that reflect a franchise in transition. Klay Thompson, once part of the Warriors' dynastic core, has been linked to the Miami Heat in recent chatter, while veteran forward Mario Hezonja has already signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers. None of it changes Curry's status today, but it underscores how much the supporting cast around him has changed — and how much more it could change before his deal is up.

The bottom line

For now, Golden State's message is clear: Stephen Curry isn't going anywhere, and the front office believes in the group it's built even without landing the big fish this offseason. But with Curry's contract clock ticking down and the roster around him already evolving, how the Warriors bridge the present with whatever comes next will be one of the most closely watched storylines in the league.