Just hours after getting a commitment from Al Horford regarding a multi-year deal, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that both Gary Payton II and De’Anthony Melton had also committed to the Golden State Warriors for the upcoming season. Both players are re-signing with the franchise, having been under contract last season.
Mike Dunleavy Jr. is clearly making moves to round out the current roster, as it sits on nine players with guaranteed contracts for the upcoming season. The Warriors’ offseason moves have been delayed due to the seemingly never-ending contractual stand-off with Jonathan Kuminga, who remains a restricted free agent despite months of negotiations.
Both Payton and Melton will sign their contracts once Kuminga’s situation is resolved. Therefore, they’re not currently cleared to participate in the start of the Warriors’ training camp, which begins on Monday, September 29. Horford will also be waiting on Kuminga before signing his deal with the Warriors.
Payton played in 62 games for the Warriors last season, starting 11 of those games. He averaged 6.5 points, 3 rebounds and 1.3 assists while shooting 57.4% from the field and 32.6% from deep. His defensive versatility was also a core part of his role with the franchise. Melton, on the other hand, spent the majority of the season on the injury report, having suffered a torn ACL after just six games for Kerr’s squad.
If Melton is fully healthy, he could find himself partnering with Stephen Curry as part of the starting backcourt. However, Kerr will likely experiment with his rotation before settling on a starting five. Nevertheless, Warriors fans will welcome the two returning veterans, especially as they will add some much-needed depth.
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This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Golden State Warriors receive commitments from two returning veterans.
Reporting by Adam Taylor, Warriors Wire / Warriors Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
