RealGM

The Golden State Warriors were thrilled with the fit of guard De'Anthony Melton after signing him as a free agent this past summer. However, with Melton now out for the season due to a partially torn ACL, the Warriors are likely to trade the veteran guard.

Melton signed a one-year, $12.8 million contract as a free agent this past offseason. That's a nice piece of matching salary in a deal for Golden State, who will be looking to upgrade their roster to make another NBA Finals run keyed by Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.

Because Melton is on a one-year deal, the Warriors could trade him away before the deadline, then re-sign him in the 2025 offseason. The one-year restriction on re-acquiring players only covers signing a player who was waived after being traded, or for re-acquiring the player via another trade. In Melton's case, his contract would expire after this season. That would make him a free agent and eligible to re-sign with Golden State.

Via Jake Fischer/Bleacher Report

Would someone please be so kind as to enlighten me as to why a team would trade for Melton this season, considering he won't be able to play?

Bad Bart wrote:Would someone please be so kind as to enlighten me as to why a team would trade for Melton this season, considering he won't be able to play?

To get off a longer contract for a player you no longer want

Bad Bart wrote:Would someone please be so kind as to enlighten me as to why a team would trade for Melton this season, considering he won't be able to play?

Same reason any salary filler is included. To make salaries match in a trade and then collect what you really want (i.e. draft picks).

Toine85 wrote:

Bad Bart wrote:Would someone please be so kind as to enlighten me as to why a team would trade for Melton this season, considering he won't be able to play?

Same reason any salary filler is included. To make salaries match in a trade and then collect what you really want (i.e. draft picks).

Raptors would take that trade, Melton and a pick for Boucher. Boucher plays a useful bench role, then expires, and they can re-sign Melton next year. Or they could expand it to Melton, GP2, and a pick for Bruce Brown, who is now returning from injury. And they can do the same thing, re-sign Melton next year as Bruce is expiring.

What does GSW need?

deepeeenn wrote:What does GSW need?

This is actually a good question since they have a lot of depth already. My guess is they are ok with just acquiring draft picks if they trade Melton.

TimeisIllmatic wrote:

deepeeenn wrote:What does GSW need?

This is actually a good question since they have a lot of depth already. My guess is they are ok with just acquiring draft picks if they trade Melton.

I’d imagine they are looking for something more useful considering Steph’s timeline. They will most likely look to take salary back because of this. Getting picks doesn’t help them this year (unless they flip them before the deadline) and wouldn’t be something that appeases Steph.

deepeeenn wrote:What does GSW need?

Another proven, consistent individual scorer who could create his own shot. Yes, the Ws' roster is deep, and you could always find someone who could fill in the scoring sheet on a nightly basis. Even Draymond Green picked up his scoring, lighting it up from 3pt land. That's why the Ws are sitting at the top now, but you never know when things get tough in the playoff, and teams work harder to stop some of the team schemes that create shots for everyone. Ws don't have such a player other than Curry. That's why Ws tried to trade for Lauri Markkanen before.

TimeisIllmatic wrote:

deepeeenn wrote:What does GSW need?

This is actually a good question since they have a lot of depth already. My guess is they are ok with just acquiring draft picks if they trade Melton.

Explain to me how you get draft picks for a guy on a one year contract who is injured for the season?? Make it make sense..

Vegeta10176 wrote:

TimeisIllmatic wrote:

deepeeenn wrote:What does GSW need?

This is actually a good question since they have a lot of depth already. My guess is they are ok with just acquiring draft picks if they trade Melton.

Explain to me how you get draft picks for a guy on a one year contract who is injured for the season?? Make it make sense..

you also take a longer contract back. it's not rocket science here.

Melwing wrote:

Vegeta10176 wrote:

TimeisIllmatic wrote:
This is actually a good question since they have a lot of depth already. My guess is they are ok with just acquiring draft picks if they trade Melton.

Explain to me how you get draft picks for a guy on a one year contract who is injured for the season?? Make it make sense..

you also take a longer contract back. it's not rocket science here.

It's definitely not science related. Trading Melton for picks does not make sense at all. GSW wants to replace a valuable rotational player who is lost for the season. They do still have decent depth and will not break the bank to acquire someone. Unless this is a multiple player trade, they might be looking at guys like Jae'Sean Tate or Dorian Finney-Smith that match salaries and send over second round pick(s) with Melton. They will have more options near the trade deadline.