Warriors Concur With Veteran Guard For A One-Year Contract
For the Golden State Warriors, who only a few years ago won four NBA titles in just eight seasons, things are changing.
This past season was the first when a healthy Warriors team has missed the playoffs since 2012. In addition, they had recently lost Klay Thompson, a key player on all four championship teams, to the Dallas Mavericks.
According to Shams Charania, Golden State inked De’Anthony Melton to a $12.8 million, one-year contract as a sort of consolation prize.
Melton, 26, averages 9.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game across his six NBA seasons. He also recorded 11.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in the 2023–24 campaign while shooting 36.0 percent from three-point range and 38.6 percent from the field.
He will provide Golden State with an option off the bench at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, since it is likely that Brandin Podziemski, who had a fantastic rookie campaign, will now start at the two position for them.Together with Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic, Thompson will provide the defending Western Conference champion Mavericks with much-needed more firepower as they try to overcome their current setbacks.
What the Warriors can do to reclaim some of their former greatness is the question that now needs to be answered.
Given their enormous payroll, they may have to rely heavily on internal growth from young players like Moses Moody and Podziemski, as their alternatives are quite restricted.
However, one thing is for certain: their dynasty is virtually gone forever