The Golden State Warriors’ early-season momentum was dealt a significant blow Wednesday as the team announced guard De’Anthony Melton will need surgery for a partially torn left ACL and will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season.
The 26-year-old Melton, who recently played himself into the starting shooting guard spot next to Steph Curry, signed with the Warriors on a one-year, $12.8 million deal this summer, a contract that was considered team-friendly. He was available at that rate because he was limited to 35 games last season with the Philadelphia 76ers due to a tricky back injury.
Melton joined Golden State believing he could improve his value with a strong season and re-enter a friendlier free-agent market next summer. That plan has been dashed in the opening month.
After turning heads with a strong preseason, Melton looked sharp in his six games with the Warriors. At the end of a recent 4-1 road trip, coach Steve Kerr announced him as the perimeter starter in the backcourt, believing his defensive versatility, offensive playmaking and floor-spacing shooting ability made him a perfect fit next to Curry.
Melton was terrific in a home win over the Dallas Mavericks last week, but tweaked his knee during the game and was spotted limping. He still closed the contest, but it was later revealed he suffered an ACL injury. Melton searched out several opinions for the partially torn ACL before season-ending surgery was deemed the best long-term route.
The Warriors plan to apply for the $6.4 million disabled player exception, team sources said, but can’t currently use it. They are less than $1 million under the first apron, where they are capped. But it’s possible it could be used later in the season in conjunction with other roster moves, though a scenario where it could prove useful is exceedingly unlikely.
In Melton’s place, Kerr is starting Lindy Waters III, a low-price offseason trade target who has impressed with his shot-making. Kerr said second-year guard Brandin Podziemski could eventually elevate into that starting shooting guard spot, but he currently prefers to keep the bench rotation stable. Podziemski is currently mired in a slump, shooting 38 percent overall and 19 percent from 3.
“He’s not shooting the ball with much confidence right now,” Kerr said. “That’s obvious. It’s part of being in the NBA. Everyone goes through stretches where you don’t quite feel it. The way he shot it at the end of last year, all summer, watching him in camp, he’s a really good shooter. He’ll find it.”
The Warriors need him to find it, especially without Melton for the rest of the season.
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(Top photo: David Richard / Imagn)
