Too many variables! Curry officially responds to failed recruitment of James: Don't fantasize too early before the dust settles.

On July 26, Beijing time, according to Warriors reporter Marcus Thompson, Stephen Curry genuinely hoped James would join the Warriors, believing Golden State had a chance. Upon learning that James chose to go to the Philadelphia 76ers, Curry responded: "Don't anticipate too early before many things are settled; there are too many variables."

James's decision completely changed the Eastern Conference landscape, and when Curry talked about it, he had already come to recognize the reality of the Warriors' current situation—that is, the situation the Warriors were in before James announced his departure from the Lakers.

The Warriors' attempts to find another superstar partner for Curry in the twilight of his career have faced repeated setbacks, and this is just the latest frustration. According to reports, the team tried to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, Jaylen Brown, and others, with the only successful acquisition being Jimmy Butler. Butler suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and is expected to miss at least half of the 2026-27 season while continuing to recover.

Additionally, Moody is out indefinitely due to a patellar tendon tear. Once Green completes his contract extension, the six highest-paid players on the Warriors are either over 35 years old or recovering from major injuries. With fierce competition in the Western Conference, the Warriors face a grim situation if they want to remain competitive.

"The core issue is right in front of us; anyone in this situation would find it extremely difficult, especially for a team like ours that wants to stay competitive," Curry said. "With Jimmy and Moses both injured, all our team-building plans have been disrupted. How to maintain a competitive level without them and build on that for the new season—the challenge is the same. I remain rational about this."

Although it's hard to imagine Curry in another team's jersey, his $62.6 million contract is expiring, and he can use this to pressure the management to keep actively operating and upgrading the roster. The 38-year-old Curry does not want his illustrious career to end with a mediocre team. The Warriors finished last season with a 37-45 record and were eliminated in the play-in tournament, which is naturally worrying.

Part of the decline in performance was due to Curry developing runner's knee late in the season, which limited him to just 43 games. In the new season, at least until Butler and Moody recover and return, the team will likely rely on Curry to carry the offensive load again. For a veteran about to enter his 18th season, the burden is extremely heavy.

"We look forward to both of them returning healthy so the team can remain competitive and secure a playoff spot, building a foundation and exploring future directions. But this is reality; there is no idealized parallel world," Curry said.

Since they failed to bring in a top-tier star, Curry hopes the management can pursue mid-level reinforcements. They don't necessarily need a superstar to share the offensive burden, but at least someone who can help the team secure a playoff spot. The Warriors may find it very difficult to achieve this.

"Of course, I expect the management to come up with various feasible plans to build the strongest roster, and we've discussed many ideas internally," Curry said. "But with key players suffering serious injuries one after another, all plans will change accordingly."