The Trade That Almost Changed NBA History: How Steph Curry Nearly Became a Phoenix Sun

PHOENIX, AZ –
The year was 2009. LeBron James had just claimed his first MVP trophy, Kobe Bryant was celebrating his fourth championship, and the Celtics’ Big Three were still terrorizing the East. But behind the scenes, a seismic NBA shift was brewing—one that could have rewritten the destinies of two franchises and the league itself.

Suns & Warriors: Two Teams, One Crossroads

The Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors entered the summer of 2009 in wildly different places. The Suns, led by Steve Nash and Amar’e Stoudemire, had spent years chasing glory but falling short. The Warriors, fresh off their “We Believe” miracle run, were struggling to rebuild and recapture their playoff magic.

Yet both teams shared a common dilemma: uncertainty about the future. The Suns were weighing whether to re-sign Stoudemire, whose contract was expiring and whose defense was a glaring weakness. The Warriors, under new GM Larry Riley, wanted to make a splash and reshape their roster.

The Mind-Blowing Trade That Almost Happened

As the 2009 NBA Draft approached, Suns GM Steve Kerr had his sights set on a young, electrifying prospect: Stephen Curry. Kerr saw Curry as a supercharged version of Nash—a future franchise cornerstone.

Here’s where NBA history nearly took a wild turn:
Kerr and Riley began negotiating a blockbuster deal. If Curry fell to the Warriors at #7, they would select him, then immediately trade him to Phoenix for Amar’e Stoudemire. The Suns would get their new star, the Warriors would fill their gaping hole in the frontcourt, and the league’s landscape would shift overnight.

Why the Trade Collapsed

The deal, while tantalizing, was fraught with risk. The Warriors feared Stoudemire’s knees wouldn’t hold up—microfracture surgery was still a red flag in the NBA. Kerr, meanwhile, worried about the emotional fallout if he shopped Stoudemire and the trade fell through.

Golden State hesitated, unable to guarantee Stoudemire would re-sign long-term. Coach Don Nelson, the NBA’s mad scientist, stepped in and insisted the Warriors keep the pick and draft Curry. The rest, as they say, is history.

The Ripple Effect: Dynasty Lost, Decade of Drought

The Suns missed out on Curry, drafted Earl Clark instead of Jrue Holiday, and watched as Stoudemire walked away in free agency the next year—leaving Phoenix with nothing. Steve Kerr resigned, and the Suns plunged into a ten-year playoff drought, the longest in franchise history.

Meanwhile, the Warriors kept Curry, built a dynasty, and transformed basketball forever.

What If?

Had the trade happened, the Suns might have become the league’s next superteam, with Curry running the show in the desert. The Warriors, lacking their future MVP, may never have risen to dominance. The Rockets, Thunder, or even the Spurs could have claimed more championships in the 2010s.