Warriors Need Kevin Durant to Give Stephen Curry Last Shot at a Title amid NBA Rumors

The Golden State Warriors are running out of time to give 36-year-old franchise face Stephen Curry one last chance at adding to his NBA championship collection.

Their latest attempt is an awfully compelling one, though.

The Warriors have held "exploratory conversations" with the Phoenix Suns regarding net-shredding superstar Kevin Durant, per Sam Amick, David Aldridge and Anthony Slater of The Athletic. Golden State would struggle to even dream of many better outcomes for its second-star search than bringing Durant back to the Bay.

He's an all-time great who hasn't even hinted at leaving his prime. His 26.9 points per game are almost perfectly aligned with his career scoring average (27.2), and he remains one of the most efficient high-volume scorers around (52.4/39.8/82.7).

The Warriors have long been in the market to give Curry a capable co-star on the offensive end. Durant is the rare type of elite who could actually take over go-to scoring duties and allow Curry to cook as an overqualified second option.

Granted, this twosome wouldn't have the longest shelf life, since both will turn 37 before 2025 is finished. What it could have, however, is an all-access pass to immediately join the Association's elite ranks.

There's no right way for opposing defenses to handle an offense featuring both Curry and Durant. The first time these two linked up, the Warriors averaged 60.7 wins over a three-season stretch, during which they booked three NBA Finals trips and won two championships.

The 2018-19 team had what was then the highest offensive rating in league history, per StatHead Basketball. The 2016-17 squad was only two spots lower on that list.

This was basketball brilliance the likes of which the NBA had rarely (if ever) seen.

Curry and Durant were younger, of course, and the supporting cast was stronger than what they'd have around them now. It's tough to tell exactly what the Suns would seek in return for Durant, but The Athletic scribes reported the Warriors' overtures "have only been meet with an exorbitant asking price" with Phoenix being "known to covet" Draymond Green and having "a level of interest" in Jonathan Kuminga.

Golden State, in other words, wouldn't be title favorites even with Durant.

It would, however, warrant a place in championship discussions. And since the Warriors have missed the playoffs in three of the five seasons since Durant's departure, one can only assume they are eager to restore that kind of relevance.

Very little should be off-limits in a Durant pursuit. He is the best player connected to the trade market and one who has already proved to be a perfect fit for this system.

He's also someone sure to elicit aggressive offers from others. The Athletic reporters relayed that the Dallas Mavericks "have dreams" of slotting Durant alongside Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis. The ahead-of-schedule, asset-rich Houston Rockets are reportedly "known to be contemplating a pursuit of Durant as well."

And, remember, the Warriors were already facing a high bar with the challenge of just getting the Suns to let Durant go.

Durant would cost a fortune. If Golden State got him, it would be up against one of the league's most urgent win-right-now time crunches.

It's still worth it. The Warriors aren't competing for anything of significance without him. Not during whatever remains of Curry's championship window, at least.