All eyes are on the Golden State Warriors and their relentless pursuit of NBA champion center Al Horford.
While Warriors fans may not want to admit it, Horford is a must-have target for the franchise. Kevon Looney will compete with the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2025-26 campaign after securing a two-year deal, limiting the Dubs’ frontcourt options.
The Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles have also entered the Horford sweepstakes, but the Warriors are still the frontrunners to land the 39-year-old big man.
However, although Horford is the main attraction for Golden State, there’s another free agent who’s reportedly caught the organization’s attention.
“The chatter with (De’Anthony) Melton and the Lakers has cooled over the last few days, and there’s actually been more buzz with him and the Warriors,” The Athletic’s Jovan Buha reported Monday. “So, he’s been linked with them a little bit more.”
If the Warriors were to sign Melton this summer, the 27-year-old guard wouldn’t be joining the franchise for the first time.
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Melton inked a deal with the Dubs before the start of the 2024-25 season as a free agent. The 27-year-old guard averaged 10.3 points per game on 40.7% shooting from the field and 37.1% shooting from three in six contests alongside Stephen Curry before partially tearing his ACL in November.
The Warriors wasted no time washing their hands with the injured guard, as they traded him to the Brooklyn Nets in mid-December.
As a valuable three-and-D wing, the USC product could be a pivotal second-unit bench contributor for Golden State during a potential second stint in the Bay, assuming he doesn’t endure another season-ending setback.
A reunion with Curry and the Warriors could soon come to fruition for Melton.
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