SAN FRANCISCO – Seth Curry has spent the past month and a half the same way a lot of basketball fans have. He did his best to stay in good physical condition, stayed in touch with family members and consumed a substantial amount of NBA basketball on TV.
Of course, unlike the majority of the country, Curry did so as a way to stay ready for when the Warriors inevitably signed him to a midseason contract and reunited him with older brother Steph.
“I knew they would come eventually,” Curry, 35, said Monday at his introductory press conference after the team announced his return. “So I was just trying to stay positive. My agent was always telling me, those 20 games, when you’re in the league and around it, those 20 games go by fast … it was just weird, not being in a locker room every day, going to shootaround and going to games for the first time in 12, 13 years.”
He will be active on Tuesday against the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
Seth Curry led the league in 3-point percentage (45.6%) in 68 games for his hometown Charlotte Hornets last season.
Curry, who has made 43.3% of his 3-pointers over an 11-year career, joins a crowded shooting guard rotation that coach Steve Kerr will need to manage.
It includes Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, Buddy Hield and rookie sensation Will Richard. However, with the possible exception of Hield, none of the existing options at the position is as deadly from long range as Curry.
“He gives us another great shooter, a guy who is really solid with the ball,” Kerr said. “A total pro who is ready on a moment’s notice.”
De’Anthony Melton, who is expected to return this week from ACL rehab, will also be a factor.
Curry had spent training camp with the Warriors on an Exhibit 10 contract, but did not play during the preseason and was waived shortly before the regular season began on Oct. 21.
The move was expected, as the cap space-strapped Warriors were up against the second apron. If the team’s overall salary exceeds that threshold, it faces severe restrictions when it comes to adding talent to the roster.
Now that enough of the season has passed, Curry’s pro-rated salary allows the Warriors to remain under that second apron.
“My mental (state) is right, and I’ve just been trying to keep my game sharp, and stay in the best shape possible,” Curry said.
Injury updates
Jimmy Butler’s status for the Thunder game sounds promising, according to Kerr. The forward suffered a hard fall during the Warriors’ game against the Pelicans on Saturday, but did not leave and ended up finishing out the victory.
“He didn’t practice today, but he feels like he’ll be able to play tomorrow,” Kerr said. “But he was pretty sore from that spill.”
Al Horford will likely miss the game as well, having been out the last week with sciatica and for an excused personal reason. Kerr said the center is doubtful.
G League standout promoted
The Santa Cruz Warriors have stumbled out to a wretched 0-9 start, but LJ Cryer is not to blame. The preseason standout for Golden State has been a flamethrower for the G League affiliate, averaging 24.3 points per game and making 41.4% of his 3-pointers in seven starts.
For this, the Warriors have waived Jackson Rowe and signed Cryer to a two-way contract, multiple outlets have reported.