Wizards Rumors: Seth Curry An Option For The Bench
Recent Washington Wizards rumors revolve around potential free agents they could add to their bench, and Sacramento Kings point guard Seth Curry is one name to keep an eye on.
Washington Wizards rumors will swirl throughout the offseason as they look to improve a roster that came up short this past season. The Wizards are coming off a disappointing 2015-16 season, as they missed the postseason for the first time since the 2012-13 season, Randy Wittman‘s first full season on the sidelines.
The second time missing the playoffs was enough for Wittman to lose his job, as he was fired after the season. The Wizards already have his replacement in former Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Scott Brooks, so now the focus will turn to improving the roster.
One name to keep an eye on is Sacramento Kings backup point guard Seth Curry. The brother to Stephen Curry has flashed potential that he could stick in a rotation at times during his short NBA career, but he’s never gotten much of a chance. This past season with the Kings, he finally got that chance and made the most of it.
Curry appeared in 44 games, averaging 6.8 points, 1.5 assists and 1.4 rebounds in 15.7 minutes per game. But when given extended run, Curry really showed what he could do. Like anyone with the last name Curry, Seth can shoot the ball. He knocked down 45.5 percent of his shots and 45 percent from deep, also connecting on 83.3 percent of his free throw attempts.
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Once the Kings season was over and they gave younger players extended run, Curry thrived. Curry started nine of the last 11 games for the Kings, playing 29.9 minutes per game. He was productive in that time, averaging 14.3 points, 3.8 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game.
In seven games in April, in which he made five starts, Curry averaged 32.4 minutes per game, scoring 16.4 points on a .459/.489/.875 shooting line with 5.3 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game.
As a result, Curry has already declined his player option with the Kings for the 2016-17 season, turning down $1 million. That decision makes him an unrestricted free agent with the ability to sign with any team of his choosing. One of the teams that could show interest is the Wizards, according to Ben Standig of CSN Mid-Atlantic:
"“No, Stephen Curry isn’t leaving Golden State. Seth Curry on the other hand is possibly available. … If Washington stays with the pace-and-space offense, it needs a playmaker off the bench capable of sinking the long ball. We’ll see if the Wizards bring back Ramon Sessions, but for now the backup slot behind starting point John Wall is open.”"
While Sessions is a seasoned veteran, and you know what you are going to get when he steps on the court, he does not necessarily fit into the pace-and-space offense that Standig mentions. For his career, Sessions is only a 31.4 percent three-point shooter. While not horrible, it doesn’t strike fear into opponents as a true threat from deep.
In addition, Curry is five years younger than Sessions, so he is someone that could grow with the young core that the Wizards currently have in John Wall, Bradley Beal, Otto Porter Jr. and Kelly Oubre. Also, in addition to Sessions being a free agent, Garrett Temple and Gary Neal are also set to be free agents this summer.
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While the Wizards are expected to go big game hunting in free agency, namely for the Thunder’s Kevin Durant, the backcourt in the second unit will also be a need. Curry could fill that need, as the Wizards would present him with a legitimate role off the bench backing up Wall at point guard.