Stephen Curry On Trade Block: Top 10 Destinations
The Golden State Warriors drafted Stephen Curry in 2009 with the 7th overall selection.
The Kid. The Point. The Future.
It seems the Warriors have developed a change of heart.
Today, reports circulated that the Warriors are open for trade and all players are available.
With Monta Ellis having his best NBA season to date, you get the feeling he's not leaving. Ellis has matured tremendously and his game has revolutionized. He's become extremely more effective, improving his defensive and working to make his teammates better.
Unfortunately, it may lead to the expense of his back court mate.
Golden State reportedly seeks a "superstar" player in return, but it's possible they can find other enticing offers as well.
Here's a list, no particular order, of 10 teams in the league I feel would be an ideal fit for the 22-year-old, baby-faced Davidson alum.
New York Knicks
1 of 11
Going back to the 2009 draft, it was no secret how much New York coveted Stephen Curry.
Curry slipped down to seventh overall, one spot before the Knicks.
The Knicks haven't had a legit, natural point guard in a long time. I'm well aware Raymond Felton is producing by far his best season, but he's not the Knicks long-term answer.
Is now the time for the Knicks to get their guy. Curry happens to be available for the right price.
Curry would have an excellent opportunity to flourish in Mike D'Antoni's open system. Younger, smarter, and one the best pure shooters in the league, Curry would be a fascinating fit.
Stoudemire is the team's lone star player and stays put, but New York has several other attractive assets.
Atlanta Hawks
2 of 11
The Atlanta Hawks befuddle the casual fan.
Here's a team which took the top-seed Boston Celtics to Game 7 in the 2008 NBA Playoffs as an eight seed.
Since then, the Hawks haven't made much ground; routinely finishing with a decent record, but an early playoff exit.
There is little doubt Atlanta has the talent to impress, but the last few years they have underachieved.
How about plugging Curry into their lineup?
Mike Bibby came to Atlanta and shored up some problems. He's older now and his production has steadily decreased.
Jeff Teague has not panned out according to the organization's outlook.
Pieces would move, but you'd assume Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, and Al Horford stay intact.
With his high basketball I.Q. and shooting ability, Curry would improve the Hawks.
Los Angeles Clippers
3 of 11
What a difference Blake Griffin makes.
The Los Angeles Clippers used to be a complete joke, but Griffin is doing his job to alter that perspective.
Talent, youth and potential give people a reason to watch the still disrespected half of Los Angeles basketball.
Along with Griffin, probable Rookie of the Year, the Clippers have a loaded youth movement including Eric Gordon, DeAndre Jordan, Eric Bledsoe and Al-Farouq-Aminu.
Nothing firm here, but Warriors need help at center. A package beginning with Chris Kaman and Eric Bledsoe could get something done if the Clips wouldn't mind taking on Andris Biedrins.
Imagine Los Angeles boasting a Big 3 of Griffin, Gordon and Curry.
Scary.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Sacramento Kings
4 of 11
The Sacramento Kings are experiencing an extreme rebuilding process.
Just keeping the team in northern California suddenly became serious concern.
The Kings understand they are years from really competing, yet have put together some of the league's most promising young players.
Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins.
The team doesn't have a consistent point guard to lean on every night.
Beno Udrih has his moments and Pooh Jeter isn't really considered a contributing piece down the line.
The Kings would love to team Curry with Evans and Cousins. This would allow Evans to play off the ball more and suit his skills.
Curry would be quite the constant, working with Cousins and getting the best out of him.
Houston Rockets
5 of 11
The Houston Rockets plan to be one of the most active teams leading up to the Feb. 24 trade deadline.
Carmelo Anthony remains plan A and the apple of their eye, but if it doesn't happen Stephen Curry wouldn't be a bad plan B.
The Rockets own several attractive trade assets that could land them a player like Curry.
Aaron Brooks may have fallen out of favor in Houston, whether it be due to injuries or the emergence of Kyle Lowry.
Rick Adelman would treasure a point guard of Curry's caliber, one who's a skilled passer and pinpoint shooter.
The Rockets could offer Brooks, Yao Ming's expiring with insurance, and another young player such as Jordan Hill, Courtney Lee, or Chase Budinger.
Minnesota Timberwolves
6 of 11
Well, well, well. The Minnesota Timberwolves.
Isn't this the squad to pass up Curry? Not once, but TWICE!
Instead, the Wolves drafted highly touted Ricky Rubio of Spain and Jonny Flynn from Syracuse.
Rubio has yet to play a single NBA game and Flynn has been a disappointment.
Any way for David Kahn to make up for his mistake? It's possible.
Joining Kevin Love and Michael Beasley with Steph Curry sounds amazing, but is it realistic?
Would a package of Flynn, Wesley Johnson and Kosta Koufos draw interest?
Detroit Pistons
7 of 11
Look at that Tracy McGrady face.
Yes, it's been rough playing in Detroit. For everyone.
Over the decade, The Detroit Pistons have been the victim of three terrible management decisions.
- 2003 NBA Draft - Selecting Darko Milicic over Carmelo Anthony
- Trade - Sending Chauncey Billups to Denver for Allen Iverson
- Free Agency - Wasting big money on two role players, Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva.
The team has gone from one of the league's most prominent to a disaster.
Could a fresh face change the current condition?
Not immediately, but it would be a wise start.
I'm sure Golden State would want center help, possibly asking Detroit to start with rookie Greg Monroe and build a package around him.
Curry could help speed the process of the Pistons current state.
However, there's much wrong in Detroit, even too much for Stephen to fix.
Portland Trail Blazers
8 of 11
The Portland Trail Blazers have dealt with their share of bad luck the past few seasons.
It seems they cannot escape the injury bug, which hampers Brandon Roy and Greg Oden notably.
One would assume the Blazers are in the market for a point guard. Andre Miller is older and Pat Mills isn't quite reliable yet.
Rumors had listed Portland with Dallas as teams interested in acquiring Devin Harris if he were to get dealt to Denver in the Anthony fiasco.
Another solution could be making a call a bit south to Oakland and inquire about Stephen Curry.
Curry as the future point in Portland? Intriguing to say the least.
He'd be an instant contributor and fan favorite, on his way blossoming into one of the league's top guards.
Portland could entertain the Warriors with several different variation of young players including Nicolas Batum, Wesley Matthews, Rudy Fernandez and Patty Mills.
If Golden State desired some veteran foundation, they could request Marcus Camby or Miller along with a young guy.
Memphis Grizllies
9 of 11
The Memphis Grizzlies have a talented correlation of NBA talent.
It's the locker room chemistry and potential financial bind that comes into play.
O.J. Mayo has been mentioned in multiple trade discussions for some time now and it's likely he won't be a Grizzly much longer.
Memphis and Golden State had trade negotiations this summer about Mayo and Monta Ellis, but those talks didn't get far.
This time around, with Stephen Curry the subject, things could be different.
Would the Warriors buy into receiving Mayo, center Hasheem Thabeet, Xavier Henry?
Mike Conley and his new contract would be too rich for the Warriors to take back, but I can see Curry and Conley in a Memphis back court together.
Monta Ellis at point guard and Mayo as his tag team partner makes tons more sense.
Oklahoma City Thunder
10 of 11
Saved the best for last.
The Oklahoma Thunder, the association's most dangerous youth movement.
Stephen Curry and the Thunder, what should have been.
Oklahoma City caught the league and its fans by surprise, selecting James Harden from Arizona State with the 3rd overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft.
Assumption says the organization felt Russell Westbrook was capable of being the team's full time point guard of the future and thus decided to add a wing player to play off him.
No disrespect to Harden, but looking at the situation now, one would have to think Oklahoma City would have taken Curry instead.
Perhaps Harden could find a starting roll in the league, but for now he consumes the sixth man role in OKC.
Take the time to imagine the Thunder starting Westbrook, Curry, Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, and either Serge Ibaka or Nenad Krstic.
As impressive as they stand now, adding Curry could lift this team of talent to a new level.
The Thunder could start by offering Harden and Ibaka.
Gut feeling says this was meant to be and Curry would improve an already exciting young core.
Durant, Westbrook and Curry could be the most electrifying trio in the entire NBA.
Other Teams? Options?
11 of 11
There goes 10 places he could end up.
This simply is my own speculation and ideas, but I'd love to hear what other people think.
What are your thoughts?
Want Steph on your favorite team, how and what would you give up to acquire him.
Leave it all in the comments, thanks for reading!
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
