© Sergio Estrada | 2020 Mar 5
Stephen Curry is about to be reunited with an old friend.
Kent Bazemore, who got his start in the NBA with the Warriors from 2012-2014, is rejoining Golden State on a one-year deal worth $2.3 million. Bazemore is close friends with Curry and helped convince Curry to sign with Under Armour in 2012.
Free agent Kent Bazemore has agreed to a one-year deal with the Golden State Warriors, agent Austin Walton tells @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 22, 2020
The deal for Bazemore will not cut into the Warriors’ mid-level exception (projected to be worth a little over $5 million) or the potential disabled player exception ($9.3 million) which the Warriors have petitioned the league for and are waiting to hear back.
Bazemore’s job will be to space the floor with the significance of his role likely based on how consistently he’s hitting the 3-point shot. Bazemore is a career 35.1 percent 3-point shooter, averaging just over five attempts per 36 minutes. He was less consistent last season, shooting 34 percent combined in stints with the Blazers and Kings.
The Warriors are also showing interest in Marc Gasol, according to a report from ESPN. Though the opposite of rookie James Wiseman stylistically, the three-time All-Star and former Defensive Player of the Year would likely serve in a mentor role as the team’s backup center. Gasol, 35, saw his minutes fall to a career low 26.4 per game with the Raptors last year, averaging over seven points and six rebounds.
Though the Warriors are interested, the feeling may not be mutual. Gasol has reportedly narrowed his focus to joining the Lakers or re-signing with the Raptors.
Marc Gasol is narrowing his focus to the Lakers and Raptors, and L.A. is working market place to find way to improve offer, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. Mavericks are not expected to be destination.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 22, 2020