Who will be Steph Curry's backcourt partner? 3 potential running mates explored
The Golden State Warriors had the luxury of pairing Steph Curry with Klay Thompson in the backcourt for over a decade. While both are great individual players, their combination helped lay the foundation of the NBA's most recent dynasty. With Thompson no longer a Warrior, who should be Curry’s backcourt partner?
When pressed with the same question during Golden State’s training camp in Hawaii, Steph Curry named three options:
“We have options, obviously. We have a defensive-minded guy like Melton. You got a guy who is kind of a connector, can put the ball on the floor (and) create like BP. Me and BP started a couple times last year. You got Buddy who can shoot (and) space the floor, a veteran who knows how to play.”
Here’s a detailed look at the three options Curry named.
3 potential running mates to be Steph Curry’s backcourt partner:
#3 Buddy Hield
The Warriors signed Buddy Hield during the offseason, and he perfectly fits coach Steve Kerr’s mantra of keeping Golden State a high-volume 3-point team. If there is anything that Hield isn’t shy of, it’s letting the ball fly from the deep. Over the past two seasons, Steph Curry ranks second for the most 3s made. Who finished first? Buddy Hield.
If the Golden State Warriors are looking to spread the floor, he is the perfect fit. Hield is a career 40.0% 3-point shooter on 7.6 attempts per game. While he seems like a suitable replacement for Thompson, he lacks the latter’s defensive ability. In his prime, Thompson was one of the best two-way players in the league. Can the Warriors push Hield to play defense? Only time will tell.
#2 De’Anthony Melton
Golden State's dominance last decade stretched far beyond its offense. The Warriors were lock-down defenders because of players like Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala and Thompson. De’Anthony Melton, another summer acquisition, fits that mold of players.
Melton is a proven defender with a history of troubling Curry. He only played 38 games last season because of a back injury. He spent the offseason rehabilitating the injury and is healthy. While he isn’t the most prolific 3-point shooter, he converts a respectable 36.9% of his deep attempts.
Will that be enough to fill the void left by Thompson? The answer is probably no. However, if he can restore some of the defensive identity the Warriors lost following Klay’s leg injuries, Steve Kerr and Co. can surround him with enough marksmen to cover his lack of volume shooting.
#1 Brandin Podziemski
This choice seems obvious given how highly Golden State rates the second-year guard. According to reports, the Warriors were unwilling to trade Podziemski for Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen. Podziemski even pushed Thompson to the bench at times as a standout rookie last fall.
However, like Melton, Brandin Podziemski doesn't shoot as well as Klay Thompson, but he still converted 38.5% of his 3-point attempts last season. He also has excellent defensive awareness, leading the league in charges drawn at 38.
When Curry and the 21-year-old shared the floor last season, Golden State outscored opponents by 122 points. As Steph nears the end of his prime, the Warriors could groom Podz this fall to take over its backcourt reins.