NBA trade proposal sends Warriors star Stephen Curry to Hornets

Even after back-to-back wins, including a convincing one over the Magic, the Warriors remain stuck in the NBA’s version of no man’s land.

At 15-15, they sit eighth in the West, staring up at a crowded middle and looking increasingly like a team caught between eras. Too good to bottom out. Not good enough to scare anyone.

That’s where the noise comes in.

The roster is old. The margins are thin. And coach Steve Kerr has faced growing scrutiny for how young players, most notably Jonathan Kuminga, fit into the picture. Fair or not, when a franchise drifts like this, people start throwing out wild ideas.

Enter Bill Simmons.

On his podcast, the Ringer founder floated a truly nuclear option. Trade Stephen Curry to the Hornets for LaMelo Ball and a haul of draft picks.

“Curry grew up there. His dad is there. He’s joked about ending his career there,” Simmons said. “I don’t think this Warriors team has any chance. Can we just do LaMelo and a bunch of picks, send Curry back to Charlotte, and let’s go?”

To be clear, Simmons and Tim Legler framed it as more thought exercise than blueprint. No front office is dialing that call today.

Still, the idea taps into a very real question. What exactly is Golden State building toward?

Curry is 37, under contract through next season, and owed roughly $62 million in 2026–27. The West is getting younger and meaner, with the Thunder and Spurs positioned for long runs. The Warriors are not.

Charlotte, meanwhile, hasn’t sniffed the playoffs in nearly a decade. A Curry homecoming would sell tickets, jerseys, and hope. Ball’s long-term future there remains cloudy, and his leaguewide reputation is mixed.

Will it happen? No.

Is it fun to think about? Sure.

And when hypotheticals like this start making the rounds, it usually means one thing. The league senses a crossroads.