The Warriors signed five players in a row, including Horford, Melton, and Payton Jr.
2025-09-29 04:25
According to ESPN's Shams Charania on Sunday, the Golden State Warriors have signed five players in a row from the free market. They are Al Horford, De'Anthony Melton, Gary Payton II, and two rookies Will Richard and Alex Toohey.
Charania added that while Horford had verbally committed to the Warriors on the day of the report, his official signings and salaries along with Melton and Payton Jr. will depend on the outcome of Jonathan Kuminga's contract. It's worth noting that Horford and Melton had already trained with other Warriors players.
For the Warriors, the 39-year-old Horford is the perfect choice for the starting center position. He was still in good shape last season with the Boston Celtics, averaging 9.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 0.9 blocks in 27.7 minutes per game during the regular season, shooting 42.3% from the field and 36.3% from three-point range.
In the playoffs, Horford played 11 times for the Celtics, averaging 8.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.3 blocks per game, with a shooting percentage of 47.2% and a three-point shooting percentage of 40.0%.
As for Melton and Payton, both were members of the Warriors' roster last season. However, Melton played only six games for the Warriors last year due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. He was subsequently traded to the Brooklyn Nets and underwent post-operative rehabilitation. According to ESPN, he averaged 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.2 steals in 20.2 minutes per game, shooting 40.7% from the field and 37.1% from three-point range.
This summer, Melton officially became a free agent. Many teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, showed strong interest in him, but Melton ultimately chose to sign with the Warriors.
Payton Jr. primarily served as a backup point guard for the Warriors last season, averaging 6.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 15.0 minutes per game during the regular season, shooting 57.4% from the field and 32.6% from three-point range. He also appeared in 11 playoff games for the Warriors, averaging 4.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game, shooting 44.7% from the field and 39.1% from three-point range.
The Warriors also signed this year's 56th overall pick, Will Richard, to a four-year rookie contract. Richard, a 6-foot-6 guard, averaged 11.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game in Summer League. Fellow rookie Alex Toohey signed a two-way contract with the Warriors, averaging just 7.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game in Summer League.
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