Warriors Bolster Depth
Golden State Warriors Re-Sign Versatile Guard De'Anthony Melton to Two-Year, $11M Deal
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Key Points
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Melton's ACL tear occurred in December 2024 during a home win over Dallas, sidelining him for most of the 2024-25 season and influencing the Warriors to retain him on a two-year deal once he returned from rehab.
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Melton connected on 29.4% of his 3-pointers on about five attempts per game last season, highlighting the outside-shooting question surrounding his game despite strong defense and playmaking.
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He did not play back-to-back games at all last season, with the Warriors' medical staff opting to manage his workload and keep him from certain back-to-backs.
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In his best moments, Melton served as a creative ballhandler and downhill playmaker and provided perimeter defense, a combination the Warriors leaned on when other scorers were hampered by injuries late in the season.
The Golden State Warriors have re-signed guard De'Anthony Melton to a two-year, $11 million contract, with a player option on the second year, according to SF Chronicle. The deal comes one day after Melton declined his $3.45 million player option to test free agency — and lands him a significant raise after a productive return from ACL surgery.
Melton averaged a career-high 12.3 points per game in 49 games last season. Golden State of Mind noted this is the third straight offseason the Warriors have re-signed him. Golden State is now firmly back in the mix for bigger moves — including a potential run at LeBron James.
Melton's ACL Return Earned Him a Big Raise
Melton tore his left ACL in November 2024, just six games into his first season with Golden State. He had surgery in December 2024 and missed most of that year. When he returned for the 2025-26 season, the Warriors were careful with his workload. He played zero back-to-back games all season, per SF Chronicle.
Despite the restrictions, Melton delivered. He posted 12.3 PPG, 2.6 assists, and 1.6 steals per game in 23 minutes. His three-point shooting dipped to 29.4% — a career low analysts link to "heavy legs" common in the first year back from ACL rehab. But his defense and playmaking kept the Warriors interested enough to pay him $5.5 million per year.
Warriors Use Budget Exception to Keep LeBron Door Open
The contract structure matters as much as the numbers. Cap experts believe Golden State used the Bi-Annual Exception — a one-time tool worth around $5.5 million — to sign Melton. That move keeps the team's $15.1 million Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception fully intact, according to SF Chronicle. That larger exception is widely seen as the vehicle to sign LeBron James.
Using the Bi-Annual Exception comes with a trade-off. It triggers a "hard cap" at roughly $209 million for the Warriors' total payroll. That means every remaining roster move must fit under that ceiling — no exceptions. The team may need to trade Moses Moody to clear space if LeBron James signs, according to Head Topics.
Melton Fills the Two-Way Guard Hole Left by Klay Thompson
Klay Thompson left for Dallas in 2024. Since then, the Warriors have struggled to find a backcourt player who can guard elite perimeters and run the offense. Melton does both. He plays passing lanes — 1.6 steals per game ranks in the 85th percentile among guards — and he can push the ball downhill in transition, per Golden State of Mind.
Late last season, when other Warriors scorers were hurt, Melton stepped up. He scored 16 points in Golden State's Play-In Tournament loss to Phoenix on April 18. Chat Sports noted that Melton's chemistry with Stephen Curry made him hard to replace at any price near this range.
Warriors Bet on Melton's Shooting Bouncing Back
The biggest question mark is Melton's three-point shot. He hit just 29.4% from deep last season on about five attempts per game. His career average is 38%. Analysts at Sports Illustrated argue that if his shot returns to that level, $5.5 million per year is a "blessing" for Golden State and a "mistake" by other teams for not bidding higher.
Golden State now has 11 players committed for 2026-27, including Kristaps Porzingis (2 years, $40 million) and Al Horford (2 years, $14 million). The roster is taking shape — and every move points toward one goal. SF Chronicle put it plainly: the Warriors are keeping the door open for LeBron James.
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