2017 NBA free agency grades: Warriors agree to max with Stephen Curry
The most predictable move of 2017 NBA free agency went down just after midnight. The Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry agreed to a five-year max contract extension.
Last year, the unprecedented cap spike lead to massive contract numbers, including an unexpected face owning the largest contract in NBA history in Mike Conley at $153 million. With the Golden State Warriors smashing records left and right, it is only fitting that star point guard Stephen Curry takes the mantle from Conley with NBA history’s new largest contract.
If Conley is the league’s most criminally underrated point guard, Curry was its most underpaid. Making $11 million per season over the past four years — the same basic amount that Milwaukee Bucks 2-guard Tony Snell just signed for — the 6’3″ guard provided significantly more than $11 million in annual contribution to the Warriors.
Wardell Stephen Curry twice won the league’s MVP award, including becoming the first unanimous MVP in league history. Not since 1987 did an MVP point guard lead his team to a title in the same season; Curry did so in 2015 while making $11 million per year. Curry went from outside the top 180 in career three-pointers made to 10th.
Speaking of three-pointers, Curry has subjectively become the best shooter in NBA history. The top three single seasons for three-pointers made in league history belong to Curry — all set by a player making $11 million per year. Curry and the Warriors hoisted two trophies, set the regular season wins record with 73, and the postseason winning percentage record by going 16-1.
Curry’s limited contract allowed the team to add all of the talent it did, from Andre Iguodala to Kevin Durant, but now it was time for the Warriors to pay up. And thanks to a new collective bargaining agreement that took effect at the stroke of midnight on July 1, Curry was eligible for a five-year, $201 million “supermax contract,” which he signed, per The Vertical‘s Shams Charania.
Sources: Stephen Curry's agent, Jeff Austin, and Golden State GM Bob Myers have started discussions finalizing a five-year, $201M max deal.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2017
By making the All-NBA team both this past year and two of the last three, Curry is more than eligible for the contract. By inking his name to a full five-year “supermax” contract, Curry not only remains a Warrior through the remainder of his prime, but he does so by making more than any other player in the entire league.
Altogether, it will be $201 million over five years:
Stephen Curry has agreed to a 5-year, $201M deal with Golden State, agent Jeff Austin of Octagon tells ESPN. No... https://t.co/v8sOh909y7
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2017
Curry maximizes the amount of money he can earn by staying in Golden State, the only place where he would be eligible for the supermax extension. The rise from underpaid to $201 million is jarring, but incredibly deserved. He also remains the face of the league’s marquee franchise and the leader of one of the greatest dynasties in NBA history.
For the Dubs, they lock up one of the league’s five best players, and arguably its best point guard. They reward their star for gamely accepting a lower paycheck and lesser role to help the team at all costs. And they extend the title window for at least multiple seasons to come.
There is no player option in the deal, something that counts as a win for the Warriors. In addition, while Curry will be making an average of $40 million per season, he still continues to be underpaid for his impact. By having a true superstar under contract, the Warriors live the dream of other teams.
Next: 2017 NBA free agency tracker - Grades for every deal so far
That dream could bring more rings to Golden State and to Curry, and continue a marriage that has been profitable for all. Though $201 million sounds like a lot, but it’s a price the Warriors are more than willing to pay.
Grade: A+