The Golden State Warriors are set to lose another rotation player this summer. De’Anthony Melton declined his $3.3 million player option for next season and will become an unrestricted free agent, according to Spotrac’s Keith Smith.
This one isn’t a shocker. Melton had already been linked to a potential exit in recent weeks, and the move is less a surprise and more a confirmation that the 27-year-old guard believes he can land a bigger deal elsewhere.
Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reported that several playoff-caliber teams are expected to pursue Melton when the market opens. That tracks. After two seasons in Golden State, he put together a productive year that should draw interest from contending rosters looking for backcourt depth and defense.
Melton averaged 12.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists this past season while shooting 40.7% from the floor. He played 23 minutes a night across 49 games, starting 24 of them. His two-point percentage hit a career-high 50.5%, and he knocked down 82.6% of his free throws.
The start of the season wasn’t easy. Melton was still working his way back from ACL surgery that sidelined him at the beginning of the 2025-26 campaign. He looked rusty early, but by midseason he had found his rhythm.
A tough end for Golden State
The Warriors dealt with injuries all year long. They still managed to fight their way into the Play-In tournament, beating the Clippers 126-121 on April 15 before getting knocked out by the Suns 111-96 two nights later.
Melton came off the bench in that elimination game against Phoenix and put up 16 points, eight rebounds, and three assists in 28 minutes. It was a strong closing performance for a player who has been in the league since 2018 and has carved out a reputation as a versatile two-way option.
His decision to test the market comes the same day Draymond Green declined his own $27.7 million player option — a much bigger domino for Golden State’s immediate future. But Melton’s departure is meaningful in its own way. He was one of the few healthy guards on the roster down the stretch, and the Warriors don’t have an obvious replacement waiting in the wings.
Melton has bounced around a bit in his career — Phoenix, Memphis, Philadelphia, and then Golden State. He’s never been a star, but he’s always been the kind of player that winning teams want in the back of their rotation. Expect him to land somewhere that needs exactly that.
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