The Golden State Warriors are weighing up an intriguing move for a player who began 2024-25 in fantastic form.
The end to the Golden State Warriors‘ regular season was impressive, with the team hitting form after trading for Jimmy Butler.
The middle part of the season was a lot more painful for the Warriors – but it is forgotten how impressive they were at the start.
Golden State began with an electric 9-2 record to start the 2024-25 season, but after De’Anthony Melton suffered a torn ACL, it all began to fall apart.
The Warriors began to slump, and to try and salvage their slide, they made a trade with the Brooklyn Nets to acquire Dennis Schroder.
While this did not work out and Schroder was flipped in the deal to land Butler, the Warriors traded Melton away to land him.
Unable to play due to injury, the Warriors moved his salary off the books to a team with space, the Nets, and he is now a free agent.
Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty ImagesWarriors consider Melton return
The Golden State Warriors have been slow movers in free agency so far. Jimmy Butler’s midseason move was the team’s big acquisition for the summer.
But there is still work to do, especially at center with the team losing veteran Kevon Looney to the Pelicans.
Brett Siegel reports: “Dubs also still maintain interest in Gary Payton II and De’Anthony Melton.”
Melton is expecting to make a full recovery from his ACL tear to be ready for the start of the 2025-26 season.
Lakers also watching Melton
The Warriors could face competition to bring back De’Anthony Melton, with the LA Lakers credited with interest.
The Lakers were lining him up as an alternative to Dorian Finney-Smith, who has signed with the Houston Rockets.
Since then the Lakers have signed Jake LaRavia from the Sacramento Kings, and their priority is now to add a center.
But with a torn ACL, Melton was never going to be at the top of any team’s list in day one of free agency.
He is a depth addition, and the Warriors know exactly what he is capable of. If they can bring him back, it could be a shrewd move.