Kendrick Perkins believes Steph Curry must plan ‘exit strategy’ from Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Kendrick Perkins is advocating for something no Warriors fan wants to see: Steph Curry playing in a different uniform.
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“Steph needs to be planning his exit strategy from the Golden State Warriors,” Perkins said on Thursday’s episode of ESPN’s “NBA Today.”
Perkins then delivered a scathing assessment of the chances this Warriors roster has at competing for a championship.
“Over the last three years, the Warriors have been in the play-in tournament,” Perkins said. “This year, the way that the West is stacked up, they’re going to be a play-in tournament team again.”
The Warriors’ front office has come under fierce criticism recently after failing to provide a perceived-championship caliber roster to surround Curry. Including their defeat in the LeBron James sweepstakes, the Warriors have acquired zero new players via NBA free agency or trade this offseason.
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“If you’re Steph 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 banking that Mike Dunleavy is going to get it right or make the moves that’s needed to make sure that you’re able to compete for a title, especially in a tough Western Conference,” Perkins said.
Perkins then described the difficult crux with which Curry is presented.
“I want Steph Curry to retire in a Warriors uniform. But I also want to watch Steph Curry play meaningful basketball,” Perkins said. “I want Steph Curry to be playing when it matters the most. And with this roster and what they have, he’s not going to be there any time soon.”
Curry leaving Golden State would be the absolute nightmare, doomsday, DEFCON 1 scenario for Warriors fans. After 17 season and four NBA titles, many Warriors fans would consider Curry finishing and spending his entire career with Golden State as the most important priority for the Warriors, maybe even more than another championship.
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There has been little more reason than talking heads and social media chatter to believe that Curry has already set in motion, or is even considering, an exit from Golden State. But if the Warriors prove Perkins right this season and fail to contend for a championship, Curry will have to evaluate what is more important to him in the twilight of his career: competing for one last NBA title, or finishing and spending his entire career with Golden State.
