Warriors Quietly Exploring 2 Underrated Guards For Bench Reinforcement

The Golden State Warriors may have had a quiet free agency so far, but that doesn’t mean they’ve been idle. According to Brett Siegel, the Warriors are exploring two underrated but potentially impactful guards for bench reinforcement: Seth Curry and Ben Simmons.

While names like Malcolm Brogdon, Trey Lyles, and Gary Payton II have been linked to Golden State, it’s the lesser-talked-about duo of Curry and Simmons who’ve emerged as intriguing low-risk targets.

Seth Curry, the younger brother of franchise cornerstone Stephen Curry, is very much in the mix. The 34-year-old sharpshooter is not expected to return to the Charlotte Hornets, and the possibility of finally teaming up with Steph has never been more realistic. Curry averaged 6.5 points, 1.7 rebounds, and shot a blistering 47.8% from the field and 45.6% from beyond the arc last season. 

Despite reduced minutes, his efficiency and gravity as a floor-spacer make him a seamless fit in Steve Kerr’s motion offense.

A minimum deal could be enough to bring Seth to the Bay and the appeal goes beyond just family reunification. The Warriors desperately need reliable bench shooting. 

Their offense often stagnated last season when Steph sat, and having a Curry clone (albeit one with less usage) could prevent those cold stretches. The locker room and fanbase would surely embrace Seth, and pairing the Curry brothers could bring a fresh spark to a veteran roster trying to stay relevant in a loaded Western Conference.

Then there’s Ben Simmons.

Yes, that Ben Simmons, the former No. 1 overall pick whose career has been marred by injuries, controversy, and inconsistency. But now, at 28 and reportedly healthy, Simmons is open to signing a minimum contract for the right situation. The Warriors believe they may be in that situation.

Simmons averaged 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists last season across stints with the Nets and Clippers. 

While those numbers are far from his All-Star peak, his unique blend of size, court vision, and defensive versatility still holds value, especially in a system like Golden State’s that thrives on movement, spacing, and quick decision-making. 

He could function in a Draymond Green-lite role: pushing the break, defending multiple positions, and orchestrating the offense alongside shooters.

Importantly, Simmons wouldn’t be asked to score. He’d be tasked with defending, rebounding, and setting up teammates, all of which remain his strengths when healthy.

The Warriors' cap situation gives them little flexibility, but both Curry and Simmons could be available on minimum deals. That makes them low-risk, high-upside options for a team that’s trying to stay under the first apron while improving depth around Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green.

Add in the developing situation with Jonathan Kuminga, who’s expected to re-sign only to be traded before the February deadline, and it’s clear the Warriors are gearing up for a second wave of offseason moves. 

They reportedly have a handshake deal with Al Horford and Stephen Curry may have accidentally leaked, and are simply waiting for Kuminga’s deal to finalize before triggering the next phase of roster construction.

In the meantime, don’t sleep on Seth or Simmons. The Warriors aren’t done yet.