Jordan Bell, Golden State Warriors. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The Golden State Warriors could bring back one of these former teammates of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green this summer.
After having missed out on the NBA playoffs the last two years, reaching into the past a bit could make some sense for the Golden State Warriors, as they look to build a championship contender around their core of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.
Though Curry remains an NBA MVP candidate, Thompson has not played in a game in two seasons due to injury. All the while, Green continues to do what he does playing his own brand of basketball in the Warriors’ front court. Simply put, the Warriors have the financial resources to bring back a familiar face on a cheap contract with the belief he can help guide them to a title.
Here are three former teammates of Curry, Green and Thompson the Warriors can still readily sign this deep into 2021 NBA free agency.
Golden State Warriors: 3 familiar faces to potentially sign in their free agencies
3
Jordan Bell
C Golden State Warriors
No NBA team knows center Jordan Bell better than the Golden State Warriors
Even if he only played one regular-season game for the Warriors last season, center Jordan Bell has nearly all of his NBA playing experience in Golden State uniform. The undersized center first came to the Warriors in 2017-18 as a rookie, helping Golden State win its most recent NBA championship. He spent two full seasons in the Bay Area before bouncing around the league.
Bell will be entering his age-27 season out of Oregon this fall. While he has only averaged 3.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game in 12.1 minutes per contest, Bell should fit in seamlessly back in a deep reserve role on the Warriors’ bench. The best way to re-establish a winning culture is to bring back players who had bought in initially when things were going well.
While this would not be a signing that would make a ton of Warriors fans overly excited, this is all about perceived value. Bell has four years of NBA experience under his belt and has already played for head coach Steve Kerr over two stints. Given that he had a cup of coffee with the Warriors again last season, we would have to wonder if they would kick the tires on him for a third time.
Bell is available in free agency, but there are other former Warriors who will be more impactful.