The Los Angeles Lakers may be on the verge of losing a key target in free agency — and to a longtime Western Conference rival, no less.
For weeks, De’Anthony Melton had been widely expected to join the Lakers, seen as an ideal fit to shore up their perimeter defense and add a reliable three-point threat off the bench. But according to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Golden State Warriors have re-emerged as a “strong contender” to re-sign Melton, who played just six games for the team last season before undergoing season-ending knee surgery.
Lakers Rumors: Warriors Named Strong Contender For De’Anthony Melton
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Melton’s free agency has become a surprising battleground between two of the West’s marquee franchises. As Jovan Buha of The Athletic noted, the early buzz connecting Melton to L.A. has cooled, and Golden State has gained traction, despite ongoing negotiations with restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga. The Warriors, who made a $7.9 million qualifying offer to Kuminga, appear to be weighing their cap options carefully before making a move on Melton.
If the Warriors complete a trade involving Kuminga, they could unlock access to both the $14.1 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception and the $5.1 million biannual exception, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks. That flexibility would allow them to pursue Melton and potentially veteran big man Al Horford, another target with reported Golden State interest.
From the Lakers’ perspective, Melton seemed like a clear answer to one of their offseason priorities: improving defense off the bench. With Gabe Vincent’s health uncertain and few reliable guard defenders behind the starting lineup, Melton — a proven stopper with the ability to knock down corner threes — would have addressed multiple needs. Despite his injury history, the Lakers were reportedly intrigued by the upside he could bring to a contending roster.
Golden State’s interest, however, complicates that plan. Even with his partial ACL tear, Melton is viewed as a valuable asset for the Warriors’ evolving second unit. His familiarity with the team, defensive tenacity, and ability to play off stars like Stephen Curry could make him a perfect rotational fit in Steve Kerr’s system.
If the Lakers miss out on Melton, they’ll be forced to pivot in a market that is thinning by the day — and they may watch him bolster a rival’s depth in the process. For a franchise trying to win now with a 40-year-old LeBron James and an urgent timeline, losing Melton to Golden State would sting far more than just on paper.