Yardbarker
x
Which former player will the Warriors reunite with?
Seth Curry (30) shoots during warm-ups before a game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images

Which former player will the Warriors reunite with?

The Golden State Warriors are the only NBA team not to make a free-agent signing or trade this summer. They've got their eye on some familiar faces when they finally do make moves.

While the Warriors haven't made any moves thanks to the uncertainty surrounding Jonathan Kuminga's restricted free agency, they have targeted certain players for when their young forward's situation finds a resolution. Al Horford is widely believed to be headed to Golden State, while the team is also expected to bring back 27-year-old guard De'Anthony Melton, who tore his ACL playing for the Dubs in November.

That's not the only reunion that GM Mike Dunleavy and the Warriors are considering. According to ESPN's Anthony Slater, the team and Seth Curry have "mutual interest" in the sharpshooting guard joining his brother on the Warriors. While he never played for the NBA team, Curry spent his first professional season as a member of the G League Santa Cruz Warriors. At the time, the Santa Cruz backcourt featured the younger Curry and Klay Thompson's older brother, Mychel Thompson.

Seth Curry played 68 games for his hometown Charlotte Hornets last season, averaging 6.5 points while shooting 45.6 percent on three-pointers. The Warriors were only 16th in the NBA last season in three-point percentage (36.4 percent), even though they attempted the second-most threes and employ Curry's brother, the most prolific three-point shooter in NBA history.

The Warriors roster sits at nine players right now. They can expect three of those spots to go to Horford, Melton and Kuminga — or a player coming back in a trade for Kuminga. That leaves one spot under the 13-player minimum, which could go for offense with Seth Curry. Or, they could go for a more defensive-minded reunion.

Gary Payton II remains unsigned, after a season where he made $9.1M while playing 62 games, starting 11. He averaged the same 6.5 points Seth Curry did, but shot 32.4 percent on threes. Of course, Payton is still considered an excellent defender, though he's slowing down at age 32, something that's never been said about the younger Curry.

The resolution to the Warriors' offseason of uncertainty likely lies in players coming back. The Warriors still believe they can offer Kuminga the most money, even if he's unhappy with his role on the team. Melton seems like a lock to return. The final piece may depend on which flawed former player the team wants to bring back to the organization.

Sean Keane

Sean Keane is a sportswriter and a comedian based in Oakland, California, with experience covering the NBA, MLB, NFL and Ice Cube’s three-on-three basketball league, The Big 3. He’s written for Comedy Central’s “Another Period,” ESPN the Magazine, and Audible. com

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!