NBA Notes: Warriors, Seth Curry, Hornets, Pat Connaughton, Knicks

Warriors

There’s little mystery about whether the Warriors will bring back Seth Curry. It’s actually only a matter of when, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

While Curry technically becomes eligible to return on Nov. 11, Golden State is believed to be weighing whether to wait a bit longer to maintain extra breathing room below the second apron hard cap.

Curry, 34, was waived just before the regular season for financial reasons but remains well-liked within the organization and expected to rejoin the team once the front office can maneuver the cap situation.

Hornets

The Hornets’ decision to release Spencer Dinwiddie after signing him to a guaranteed minimum deal surprised plenty of people around the league, per Stein.

Some expected Pat Connaughton to be the odd man out instead, but Charlotte opted to keep the veteran wing for several reasons.

Connaughton is said to be popular in the locker room, carries championship experience, and — perhaps most importantly — owns a $9.4 million expiring contract that could become valuable trade ballast ahead of the February deadline.

The Hornets reportedly remain cautiously optimistic they’ll find a deal using that salary slot.

Knicks

When the Knicks began their coaching search this offseason, they aimed high and came up empty, Stein reports.

New York reached out to multiple teams for permission to interview sitting head coaches, but every formal request was denied.

There were even quiet feelers about Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla, which went nowhere. About a month after New York hired Mike Brown, Mazzulla signed a six-year extension with Boston, described publicly only as a “multiyear deal.”

The Knicks are said to be thrilled with Brown’s early impact, but it’s clear they initially hoped to land a bigger name.