NBA Free Agency Rumors: Steph Curry’s Warriors reach out to Damian Lillard as Golden State eye massive roster upgrade

Steph Curry and Damian Lillard might become teammates sooner rather than later. The latest NBA free agency rumors suggest that the Golden State Warriors are interested in bringing Lillard back home to the Bay. The nine-time All-Star was born and raised in Oakland and supported the Warriors growing up.

According to NBA insider Marc J. Spears, Golden State was one of the teams that reached out to Lillard after the Milwaukee Bucks waived him. The Warriors are in the middle of a dilemma concerning Jonathan Kuminga, who is a restricted free agent.

“Of the many teams that reached out to Damian Lillard, the Warriors were one of those teams,” Spears said on ESPN’s ‘NBA Today.’ “This is a guy that grew up going into games at Oracle Arena, sneaking into the media room, getting sodas. Grew up as a Warriors fan, it’s interesting. I know Kuminga’s big, hearing that the Warriors do have interest in Dame, that’s very interesting to Bay Area people.”

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The Golden State Warriors don't have a lot of money to throw at free agents. They need a center after Kevon Looney signed with the New Orleans Pelicans. They are also in search of elite wing defenders, but some options, such as Gary Harris and Bruce Brown Jr. are already off the table.

As for Damian Lillard, he's recovering from a torn Achilles tendon and is in control of what's next. Multiple teams are reportedly interested in his services, including the Miami Heat. However, playing for his hometown team in the latter stages of his career might be a better decision.

Damian Lillard was a fan of the Golden State Warriors until the NBA draft

Speaking to the San Jose Mercury-News before the 2012 NBA draft, Damian Lillard opened up about his fandom of the Golden State Warriors. Lillard was lifelong Warriors fan until entering the league, setting aside his love for Golden State.

"I grew up a Warriors fan, I'm still a Warriors fan," Lillard said. "If I go somewhere else next year, that'll be the first year I haven't been a Warriors fan. I would love to play for my hometown team."

The Warriors had the number seven pick in that year's draft, but the Portland Trail Blazers selected Lillard sixth. They had to settle for Harrison Barnes, who was vital in Golden State's championship win in 2015.

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About the author

Juan Paolo David

Juan Paolo is a journalist for Sportskeeda who covers the NBA and WNBA. He's been writing about basketball since 2015 and has been with Sportskeeda since 2021.

Juan's allegiance lies with the Golden State Warriors and his journey with the Warriors began with their memorable victory over the Lakers in 2000, and he experienced the successes of the 'We Believe' era and the rise of Steph Curry. 

What Juan loves most about basketball is its ability to evoke a range of emotions, from adrenaline-fueled excitement to the highs of victory and the lows of defeat. To ensure complete accuracy in articles, he conducts thorough research before writing his articles.

The Warriors' victories in the 2022 and 2017 championships hold a special place in Juan's memories, as well as iconic moments like Baron Davis' dunk over Andrei Kirilenko and Goran Dragic's performance in the 2010 Western Conference semifinals.

Off the court, Juan enjoys watching football, TV and movies, caring for his numerous cats, and cooking whenever time permits.

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