De’Anthony Melton’s rough finish with the Warriors looks a lot different now that the injury picture is out in the open.
The veteran guard told The San Fransisco Standard’s Danny Emerman that his thumbs were giving him major problems late last season, and both thumbs required surgery. That revelation goes a long way toward explaining why his ball-handling and shooting tailed off when Golden State was trying to hold things together down the stretch.
Melton’s late numbers still jumped after the All-Star break in points, rebounds and assists, but the efficiency cratered. He shot 38.9% from the field and 29.2% from 3-point range as the Warriors stumbled toward the postseason and then got bounced by the Phoenix Suns in the Play-In Tournament.
There was also a bigger burden on his plate than usual. Melton was playing through injuries while the Warriors were scrambling for healthy bodies, with six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler out because of a torn ACL and Stephen Curry missing 27 straight games with a knee injury. For a player whose game is built around doing the little things, that kind of expanded role was never going to be easy.
That context matters even more now because Melton is back on a two-year, $12.4 million deal that includes a second-year player option. For Golden State, there’s a real chance the disappointing finish helped push his price down.
And the early part of his run with the team offered a much better glimpse of what he can be. When he returned from his own torn ACL in December last year, Melton was one of the more important pieces in the rotation as the Warriors found some rhythm before Butler’s injury changed everything.
Now he has a chance to reclaim that kind of impact on a contract that looks team-friendly if he’s healthy. Curry’s return should also let Melton settle back into a smaller role that fits him better than the one he was forced into late last season.
Whether he starts or comes off the bench is still unresolved. Steve Kerr has said three starting spots beyond Curry and Draymond Green are open, and Melton appears to be in the mix with young guard Brandin Podziemski for a spot next to the two-time MVP in the backcourt.
Either way, the Warriors should be getting a steadier version of Melton than the one they saw at the end of last season.
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With Golden State dealing with roster injuries and other needs, that kind of flexibility matters immediately. Kerr has said he is comfortable using Lendeborg at multiple forward spots, and even in a small-ball center role, which is a strong sign the rookie could be pushed into a significant part of the rotation sooner than expected. [Read more 🡒]