Photo: Peter Baba

Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob is already thinking about what comes after the Stephen Curry era, even as the franchise continues building around its four-time NBA champion.

Speaking about the organization’s long-term direction, veteran Bay Area reporter Tim Kawakami said Lacob is determined to prove the Warriors can remain successful after Curry eventually retires.

“What Lacob wants to do and this might get Warriors’ fans mad, but he wants to build the next team after Steph Curry,” Kawakami said. “I don’t know how possible that is, but Lacob has a very keen interest in ‘This organization is going to show what it can do with Steph Curry and then after Steph Curry.’ I don’t think it’s going to be as good myself, but that’s what he wants to do.”

The comments come after a busy offseason in which Golden State attempted to make one more major push around Curry before ultimately missing out on LeBron James, who instead signed with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Rather than pivoting toward another blockbuster move, the Warriors largely maintained continuity. Draymond Green is expected to return on a new one-year contract after declining his $27.7 million player option to create financial flexibility during the team’s pursuit of James. Curry is entering the final season of his current contract, worth $62.6 million, and is eligible for an extension later this summer that is widely expected to keep him with the franchise through the end of his career.

Golden State also continues to balance its veteran core with younger talent. The Warriors added forward Yaxel Lendeborg with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. They also selected versatile wing LaJae Jones with the 54th overall pick.

Those additions align with Kawakami’s suggestion that Lacob is focused on building the organization’s next foundation instead of relying exclusively on aging stars.

The Warriors face a challenging transition period. Curry will play next season at age 38, while Jimmy Butler is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in January and is not expected to return until around Christmas. Green is also in the latter stages of his career, making Golden State’s ability to develop younger contributors increasingly important.

After finishing 37-45 last season, the Warriors earned the Western Conference’s final Play-In Tournament berth before missing the playoffs.