The Golden State Warriors are reportedly on the verge of securing veteran reinforcements, with verbal commitments in place from Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton, and Gary Payton II, per Jake Weinbach.
However, those deals remain unofficial due to unresolved negotiations with restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein on 95.7 The Game’s “Willard & Dibs,” Golden State is expected to finalize agreements with both Horford and Melton once cap space becomes available. The team’s flexibility is currently constrained by the NBA’s hard cap triggered by certain spending thresholds.
Melton, 27, played briefly for the Warriors last season before suffering a torn ACL just six games into the year. He was later traded to Brooklyn but is now being targeted for a return, valued for his defensive presence and outside shooting.
Despite interest from the Lakers, league insiders believe Golden State remains the favorite to re-sign Melton, who averaged 10.3 points and shot 37.1% from deep in his short stint with the team.
Horford, 39, is also a top priority for the front office. After completing his 18th NBA season with the Boston Celtics, he is weighing a return for a 19th season.
The Warriors, who have shown consistent interest, are among several teams pursuing Horford.
In addition to Horford and Melton, the Warriors are considering a reunion with Payton, per The San Francisco Standard’s Tim Kawakami. The 31-year-old guard remains a free agent and has long been regarded as a defensive asset by the organization.
Payton averaged 6.5 points and 3.0 rebounds over 62 regular-season games in 2024–25, shooting 57.4% from the field. He played a key postseason role, notably scoring a playoff career-high 16 points in a Game 3 win over Houston.
Originally signed by Golden State in 2020, Payton was a crucial piece of the team’s 2022 title run. He later rejoined the franchise in a four-team trade during the 2022–23 season and has remained a reliable perimeter defender ever since.
Until the Kuminga contract situation is resolved, all three potential additions remain in limbo. But sources around the league expect the Warriors to finalize these veteran signings as soon as cap mechanics allow.
