Golden State Warriors has agreed to terms with De’Anthony Melton, with the contract expected to be finalized once Jonathan Kuminga’s new deal is in place this week, aligning with timing reported around Al Horford’s signing.

The move reunites Melton with a roster he briefly joined last season before being flipped in the Dennis Schröder trade, giving the Warriors a cost-efficient guard who defends at the point of attack and shoots open threes.

In a Western Conference arms race that has seen rivals load up early, Golden State’s late window activity underscores a pragmatic pivot toward veteran role clarity and lineup balance.

Fit next to Steph and the guards

Melton’s profile—screen navigation, length on ballhandlers, catch-and-shoot reliability—slots neatly alongside Curry without demanding touches, a useful counterweight to playmaking wings and second-side initiators.

In a tiny pre-injury sample with the Warriors, Melton flashed impact as a spot starter, averaging 16.5 points and 7.0 rebounds over his final two games while hitting half his threes, a glimpse of scalable utility in Golden State’s motion sets.

Usage will hinge on Brandin Podziemski’s continued rise and how Steve Kerr toggles between Buddy Hield’s spacing, Gary Payton II’s event defense if re-signed, and Moses Moody’s steady 3-and-D minutes.

The rotation picture and urgency

Reporting has tied the Warriors to a guard cluster that could also include Seth Curry and a Payton II return, a mix that would sharpen role specialization and reduce the burden on Curry’s on-ball reps.

If that group materializes, Kerr can choose between shooting (Hield, Seth), pressure defense (Melton, Payton II), and connective play (Podziemski) depending on opponent and game script. The caveat is timing: with opening night on October 21, Golden State must accelerate camp integration after weeks of relative inactivity compared to West contenders, making health and early chemistry non-negotiable.

In the aggregate, Melton gives the Warriors a switchable guard who fits their possession economy, with upside to swing bench minutes in tighter playoff rotations if the shot holds and the knee responds.

As Kuminga’s deal clears the ledger and agreements become ink, Golden State’s bet is clear: stack dependable specialists around Curry and let scheme continuity carry the margins.