The Golden State Warriors have had a painfully slow offseason, but one NBA expert is convinced that the Dubs will make two specific veteran signings. Eventually.
"My expectation is that one way or the other, the Warriors are going to end up with both Horford and Melton on their roster. [And] they still have interest in Bradley Beal."
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) July 15, 2025
- @TheSteinLine on @WillardAndDibs.
https://t.co/kxfb9i9E5b pic.twitter.com/zeYPWrrFXD
Marc “The Stein Line” Stein has been consistently predicting Boston Celtics center
Al Horford will sign with the Warriors this summer, and he said it again Tuesday on the “Willard and Dibs Show” on 95.7 The Game. He also said his “expectation” was that Golden State would also bring back De’Anthony Melton, who missed most of last season after an ACL tear, though Stein did not mention Melton following the team on Instagram, clearly the crucial factor.
The Horford-to-Golden-State signing has seemed like a done deal for at least a week, as teams with cap space and a need at center have disappeared and center Kevon Looney signed with the New Orleans Pelicans. With no other teams seemingly in play and the Celtics making a series of cost-cutting moves with Jayson Tatum out, it seems that the Warriors and Horford have an understanding, but are waiting for Jonathan Kuminga’s free agency to play out first.
Melton is a logical addition to the Warriors, as the organization loved him last season. He just got hurt. At this point, he’s almost certainly getting the minimum.
As for Kuminga, there’s still a giant holdup in the restricted free-agent market because no one but the Brooklyn Nets has cap space. The Utah Jazz could create enough cap space to sign an RFA, but they haven’t waived their non-guaranteed contracts to do so. Both those teams have shown zero interest in being competitive next season, so they’re probably not Kuminga suitors.
According to Stein Line associate Jake Fischer, the Phoenix Suns are interested in Kuminga, but it’s unclear what they would, or even could send back. Fischer also reported that Kuminga’s agents were attempting to get the young forward to the Chicago Bulls at some point, but the Bulls are dealing with their own RFA Josh Giddey, who reportedly wants $30M per season. Kuminga wants $25M per season. Neither the Bulls or Warriors seem ready to meet those prices.
Fischer also suggested that Malcolm Brogdon could be a Warriors target, though it would be a somewhat redundant addition.
Nothing makes NBA transactions more fun than thinking about base-year compensation rules, CBA restrictions, and doing hardball negotiating with a 22-year-old. That’s where the Warriors are at right now. But it doesn’t appear Horford or Melton are going anywhere else.
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