The Warriors are bringing back big man Jordan Bell for training camp, according to Marc J. Spears of the Undefeated. The addition of Bell — along with the reported deals for Langston Galloway and Avery Bradley — will bring Golden State’s roster to the preseason maximum of 20 players.
Bell, 26, began his career in Golden State after being selected with the 38th overall pick in the 2017 draft. He was part of the rotation for his first two professional seasons and won a title with the team in 2018, but departed in free agency in 2019 and has bounced around a little since then, playing for the Timberwolves, Grizzlies and Wizards before returning to the Dubs during the last week of the 2020-21 campaign.
In 160 total regular-season games, Bell has averaged 3.7 points and 3.1 rebounds in 12.1 minutes per contest. It looked as recently as last weekend as if he might be headed overseas for the 2021-22 season, but he’ll at least get a chance to make an NBA roster this fall.
Although Bell will be in the mix for Golden State’s 15th roster spot for the regular season, he’s probably the least likely of the five candidates to make the team, according to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, who suggests the Warriors are more likely to keep someone from a group of guards that includes Gary Payton II, Mychal Mulder, Galloway and Bradley. Slater identified Payton and Bradley as the favorites, given their talents on defense.
Bell is also ineligible for a two-way contract, so if he doesn’t make the Warriors’ regular-season roster and doesn’t catch on with another NBA team, he may have to turn to the G League or an international league.
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