Warriors Reportedly 'Strong Contender' to Sign De'Anthony Melton Amid Lakers Rumors
The Golden State Warriors are a "strong contender" to bring back De'Anthony Melton in free agency despite the Los Angeles Lakers' reported interest in the veteran guard, NBA insider Marc Stein reported on Tuesday.
Melton signed a one-year, $12.8 million deal with the Warriors last offseason, but he played only six games for the team before undergoing season-ending surgery on a partially torn left ACL in December.
NBA insider Jake Fischer previously reported that the Lakers were "widely expected" to sign Melton.
Lakers insider Jovan Buha then said Monday that the rumors connecting Melton to Los Angeles had "cooled" and there was now "more buzz with him and the Warriors."
Buha added that the Warriors' potential move for Melton might be "on hold" because of their ongoing talks with restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga.
The Warriors will be able to match any offer sheet that Kuminga signs with another team after issuing him a $7.9 million qualifying offer.
The Athletic's Anthony Slater reported Sunday that there has been "no significant traction" between the Warriors and Kuminga amid trade rumors surrounding the wing.
NBC Sports' Ali Thanawalla and Tristi Rodriguez reported last week that the Warriors and Detroit Pistons had discussed a three-team deal that would sign-and-trade Kuminga and Dennis Schröder to the Sacramento Kings.
Slater later reported that the Kings had offered a package including Devin Carter, Dario Šarić and two second-rounders, but that the Warriors wanted "a promising young player plus a first-round pick."
Depending on the ultimate result of negotiations with Kuminga, the Warriors could potentially have access to both the $14.1 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception and the $5.1 million bi-annual exception, per ESPN's Bobby Marks.
Those could allow the Warriors to potentially add both Melton and former Boston Celtics center Al Horford, whom Stein noted has been the subject of "well-chronicled interest" in Golden State. Celtics general manager Brad Stevens said Tuesday that it was "unlikely" Horford would return to Boston as the team fights to stay below the second apron.
The Warriors have yet to make any significant moves this offseason outside of letting Kevon Looney walk and sign with the New Orleans Pelicans in free agency. Either signing Kuminga or finding a trade partner for him could be the first domino in a series of upcoming moves by general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr.
