American Airlines News – What can Warriors do to maximize what’s left of Steph Curry’s prime?

Four nights after they failed to capitalize on Curry’s 38-point, 11-rebound, eight-assist masterpiece in a home loss to Boston, the Warriors lost for the first time in 15 games in which he scored at least 45 — a stretch dating back to 2014.

“I’d be lying if I said I’m happy right now,” Curry said. “Kind of weird walking off the court knowing we didn’t get the ‘W.’”

This is the closest Curry, the consummate leader, came to criticizing teammates. Those who know him could hear the frustration in his voice. Quality clubs don’t squander a performance as superb as the one Curry had just delivered. With Klay Thompson sidelined by injury a second straight year, the Warriors are forced to face reality: MVP-level production from Curry won’t change the fact that they’re merely mediocre.

Since opening the season 5-0 in games in which Curry scored at least 30 points, Golden State is 1-4 in such outings. A penchant for fouling, poor rebounding, the shooting struggles of Kelly Oubre Jr. — the player ostensibly brought in to replace Thompson — and an erratic bench have made it tough for the Warriors to give Curry the support he deserves. This added a layer of melancholy to head coach Steve Kerr’s postgame assertion Saturday that Curry has “never played better.”

Curry says he feels like he’s in his mid-20s, but he turns 33 in five weeks. The Warriors can’t afford to waste what’s left of his prime if they hope to return to title contention anytime soon.

It’s easy to assume that Thompson’s return from a torn Achilles tendon next season will fix all of Golden State’s issues, but its problems go beyond what any one player can solve. This is a team still feeling the absences of second-unit stalwarts Shaun Livingston and Andre Iguodala. Draymond Green, though still a reliable defender and facilitator, hardly resembles the player who averaged 14 points and shot 38.8% from 3-point range in 2015-16.

Nearly a third of the way through the season, the Warriors lack the synergy that was a driving force behind their recent dynasty. The question is whether that can develop. Golden State is still getting newcomers acclimated to its system, but the time will come, maybe this season, when it must decide whether to mortgage its future to maximize what remains of Curry’s peak years.

Chatter around the league is that the Wizards, owners of the N(BA)’s second-worst record at 5-15, might soon listen to trade offers for Bradley Beal. The Warriors likely would see what type of package Washington would want.

It might be worth unloading Andrew Wiggins and a slew of future first-round picks to acquire the 27-year-old All-Star who leads the league with 33.3 points per game. The Warriors could justify including even Minnesota’s top-three-protected 2021 first-round pick to complete a lineup of Curry, Beal, Thompson, Green and center James Wiseman.

Talks with the Wizards — or any team, for that matter — likely would stall if Golden State is asked to part with Wiseman, 19. One Warriors source told The Chronicle, “We think he has the talent and intangibles to be one of the best centers in this league for a long, long time. It’s hard to imagine a scenario where we let that go.”

Golden State’s best option might be to stay the course, develop Wiseman, try to draft a franchise building block such as G League Ignite’s Jalen Green or Jonathan Kuminga with the Timberwolves’ 2021 pick, and hope that Curry follows LeBron James’ blueprint for longevity. Curry is on pace to become the oldest player to lead the league in total points since James did it in the 2017-18 season at 34.

“We’re talking about a two-time MVP and three-time champion, and I’ve never seen him like this,” Kerr said. “He just looks so strong to me. He’s obviously always been an incredible shooter, but he looks stronger to me just getting by people, fending them off on drives to the rim, finishing and, of course, the shot-making.

“It’s almost unfathomable what he’s doing out there.”

Judging by showings like Saturday’s, Curry could have another four or five years of elite production in him. He is flirting with his 2015-16 unanimous MVP numbers despite a far inferior supporting cast.

In little more than a month, Curry has had the two highest-scoring performances of his career. During the 18-game stretch bookended by his career-high 62-point outburst Jan. 3 and Saturday’s 57-point gem, he has averaged 30.3 points on 49.7% shooting (45.4% from 3-point range), 5.9 assists and 5.6 rebounds — all in just 34 minutes per game.