TURTLE BAY, Hawaii — For the better part of the past decade, Stephen Curry was linked to an ideal backcourt partner. Klay Thompson, particularly in his prime, spread the floor with his feared shooting and defended the opponent’s best perimeter scorer for 35 minutes, no matter strength or speed, easing Curry’s defensive load while generating acres of offensive space.
The Thompson of the late 2010s diminished because of injury. The Thompson who still finished second behind Curry on the Golden State Warriors in points last season departed for Dallas this summer.
Training camp opened Tuesday afternoon in Hawaii. Thompson’s void is fresh, and the competition for his vacancy is a hot topic. Who will be the Warriors’ starting shooting guard when the season starts: De’Anthony Melton, Buddy Hield or Brandin Podziemski? What is the ideal result for Curry?
“That’s a great question,” Curry said. “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.”
