Report: Dragan Bender to sign with Warriors, joining Marquese Chriss
Feb 20, 2020, 2:15 PM
Marquese Chriss (left) and Dragan Bender (right) could be reunited on the Golden State Warriors, according to sources. (AP Photo/John Hefti)(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
The Phoenix Suns’ two power forward selections in the 2016 NBA Draft might be reunited on the Golden State Warriors.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski, Dragan Bender is planning to sign a 10-day contract to join the Warriors and former Suns teammate Marquese Chriss.
Phoenix selected Bender with the No. 4 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft and then swung a trade with the Sacramento Kings to pick up Chriss with the No. 8 pick in the same draft class.
The two were teammates for two years on the Suns before Chriss was traded to the Houston Rockets in August 2018. Bender spent one more season in the Valley before the Suns declined his fourth-year option making him a free agent.
Chriss also spent time with the Cleveland Cavaliers before signing with Golden State before the 2019-20 season. He’s played 37 games averaging 7.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
Bender has appeared in seven games this season with the Milwaukee Bucks. He was waived on Feb. 8 allowing the Warriors to sign the 22-year-old.
The Warriors are scheduled to return to Phoenix on Feb. 29, one day prior to the expiration of Bender’s 10-day contract.
Chriss has appeared in four games against the Suns since the trade, posting a 18-point, 12-rebound double-double in the final game before the All-Star break, while Bender has not appeared in an NBA game against the Suns yet.
