What Do the Two Latest 26-27 Warriors Re-Signees Still Have to Offer?
Golden State may not have gotten much younger today, but it did return two veterans to continue this offseason’s trend of familiarity. The Warriors just re-signed Gary Payton II and De’Anthony Melton to one-year veteran minimum and a two-year, $11 million contract, respectively. This makes them the ninth and 10th players that return to the team from last season. While the two guards are in the latter half of their careers, Steve Kerr can still use their skill sets to great effect. Understandably, neither veteran will have large responsibilities or heavy usage, but there’s still important value in re-signing them.
Kerr can 100% expect these two to know where they fit into his system. GPII has remained in the Bay since joining in 2021 and has been pivotal in helping the organization win the 2022 NBA Championship with his elite on-ball defense. Even at 33 years old, Payton provides an intensity that few can match and is no pedestrian offensively. His backdoor cuts and finishes around the rim have become a signature move of his, while he can also sprinkle in the occasional corner threes.
Where Payton stops, Melton can continue. With a six-foot-nine wingspan, Melton’s off-ball awareness and ability to read the game make him a premier perimeter defender. Apart from jumping passing lanes and using his length to disrupt a set offensive play, the USC alumnus can also relieve pressure when it comes to scoring. He’s considerably better than GPII at handling the ball and can create his own shot without necessarily relying on defensive breakdowns or superb passes from the playmaker.
Overall, the Warriors didn’t just choose to put pen to paper with two athletic and defensive-minded frontcourt players. They opted for two competitors who understand the identity Kerr wants to establish. In other words, they have deliberately brought back two winners who will need no time to settle in, and that’s probably the biggest blessing for the organization. While the clock ticks at the same pace for everyone, it sure feels like Golden State’s nearly out of time to make one last push.
