Steph Curry (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
Steph Curry is the biggest bargain in the NBA right now but that's about to change at the end of the season.
However, the projections that he could become the highest paid player in the NBA may not materialize after all.
The two-time MVP talked with Tim Kawakami of Mercury News in a podcast and responded to questions about free agency and inevitably, money. Curry comments on being the most underpaid player in the league.
"One thing my pops always told me is you never count another man's money," Curry said. "It's what you've got and how you take care of it. And if I'm complaining about $44 million over four years, then I've got other issues in my life."
Consistent with his humble stance, he's not making a huge issue of his paycheck's pecking order with his fellow Warriors. In the same podcast, he also gave us one less thing to speculate.
Kawakami also asked him on whether he would actually consider leaving Golden State in free agency. Curry's answer was straightforward.
"I can't," Curry said. "Like I've said from Day 1, when I was first asked about free agency, this is a perfect place to play. Bay Area fans are amazing, our organization's amazing, we've put together an amazing team that's competing for championships every year. ... There's really no reason that I can see right now that would draw me elsewhere."
Would Steph Curry take a pay cut to ensure that the team keeps Kevin Durant? Actually, the question is whether he has to. Bobby Marks of The Vertical explained that he doesn't have to, even if Durant exercises his option.
"If Durant were to opt out, the Warriors would need to prioritize their current free agents, but that doesn't mean Stephen Curry," Marks stated. "Because of Curry's low cap hold ($18.1 million), Golden State can sign Durant with cap space and use Bird rights to exceed the salary cap to sign Curry to a salary starting at $36 million."
It seems like nothing can stop Curry from being a $200 million player. "Though Curry is a Tier 2 max player (seven to nine years of service and 30 percent of the cap), the reigning MVP would fall into the new "veteran designated exception" category of the CBA," Marks concluded.
For those hoping to break the Warriors' "superteam," it's still possible but money won't be the reason.
