Warriors agree to new deal with De’Anthony Melton ahead of 2025-26 season originally appeared on The Sporting News
The Golden State Warriors finalized several signings Sunday amid ongoing contract negotiations with restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga.
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Golden State agreed to a multi-year contract with veteran big man Al Horford Sunday afternoon, who will join the Warriors after a four-year stint with the Boston Celtics, where he won his first NBA title in 2024. Later that evening, the Warriors also secured new deals with guard De’Anthony Melton and wing Gary Payton II, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.
Melton previously signed with the Warriors in July 2024 but suffered an ACL sprain in November that required season-ending surgery. Golden State eventually traded him to the Brooklyn Nets in December in a deal for Dennis Schroder, moving off the 27-year-old’s expiring contract.
MORE: NBA insider predicts Jonathan Kuminga’s next steps amid Warriors’ $75 million offer
De’Anthony Melton returning to Golden State
Reports earlier this summer suggested Melton had a verbal agreement with the Warriors, but the team delayed finalizing new contracts while negotiating with Kuminga. With training camp beginning Tuesday, the club finally moved to make the signings official.
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Golden State remains focused on maximizing Stephen Curry’s remaining years, with the future Hall of Famer and Jimmy Butler preparing to lead the Warriors on a deep playoff run following their loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference semifinals.
Melton appeared in just six outings with the Warriors before his knee injury, averaging 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals across 20.2 minutes per game.
The 2018 second-round pick is a capable defender and has shot 36.9 percent from beyond the arc over his seven-year career, including 38.3 percent over the last five years. He’ll likely provide a spark off the bench for Golden State, though questions remain about how he’ll respond following his extended absence.
