Stephen Curry?s Ex-Warriors Teammate Returns to NBA After 381 Days in China

Many NBA players join teams overseas during the off-season in search of lucrative opportunities. One such player is Stephen Curry‘s ex-Warriors teammate. The Chicago Bulls selected the Oregon forward as the second-round pick. However, he was soon traded to the Golden State Warriors for ?$3.5 million. This trade proved to be a success as the Warriors won the 2018 NBA Championship against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 28-year-old then followed former point guard Jeremy Lin and signed a deal with Guangzhou Loong Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association. After his 381-day stint in China, the ex-Warriors forward is reportedly back in the NBA.

Jordan Bell returns to the NBA

Bell had a lot of potential in the NBA, but unfortunately, the Dubs had to unload him to make space for the D’Angelo Russell trade. Ever since the trade, he had a hard time finding a consistent role with a team. According to Michael Scotto of the HoopsHype, Bell recently inked an Exhibit 10 deal with the Indiana Pacers. The 28-year-old will feature in Indiana?s G League affiliate, the Mad Ants. He will probably compete for a two-way roster spot.

Jordan Bell played 57 regular season games in his rookie season, eventually earning a spot on the GSW playoffs roster. He fit seamlessly into the Dubs rotation, scoring three points and two rebounds in a 113?92 win over the Spurs in his debut game. He added the missing components that the Dubs were lacking: defensive versatility and rim protection. However, after winning an NBA title during his rookie campaign, he was dealt to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He also played for the Memphis Grizzlies, Washington Wizards, and Chicago Bulls in his five-year NBA career, before signing to Guangzhou Loong Lions.

How does Jordan Bell fit into the Pacers roster?

The Indiana Pacers had an underwhelming last season, finishing as the 11th seed with a 35-47 record. They won 10 games more than last season, but still failed to qualify for the playoffs for a third consecutive year. If Jordan Bell can convert the Exhibit 10 contract into a two-way deal, then it would add the much-needed defense flexibility to the roster. The Indiana Pacers point of point-of-attack defense last season was very weak, which led the opponents to have great outings. The former Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year can help on the defensive end with his athleticism.

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Last season, the absence of their franchise player Tyrese Haliburton had impacted the game significantly. Haliburton was averaging 20+ points and 10+ assists per game. However, he was not only effective offensively but also contributed greatly with his intangibles. Due to his absence, Buddy Hield and Aaron Nesmith were also less efficient. Hopefully, this year, the Indiana Pacers can turn things around.

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