The Golden State Warriors have finally broken their offseason silence, and they’re doing so with two significant commitments. According to reports from ESPN’s Shams Charania and ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel, both Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton have agreed to join the Warriors, though their contracts will not be made official until the team resolves the ongoing Jonathan Kuminga situation.
For weeks, Golden State’s inactivity in free agency had drawn criticism, especially as rival teams retooled aggressively in the Western Conference. Now, the Warriors have addressed two major needs: veteran stability at center and defensive versatility in the backcourt.
Horford, 39, has committed to a multi-year deal and is expected to start at center as he enters his 19th NBA season. The five-time All-Star leaves Boston after spending seven of the last nine years with the Celtics, including helping them capture the 2024 NBA championship.
Last season, Horford averaged 9.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while shooting 42.3% from the field and 36.3% from three. He also remained one of the league’s best defenders in isolation, holding opponents to a 46% effective field-goal percentage, seventh-best in the NBA.
The Warriors had long targeted Horford as their top option in free agency, but his decision was delayed while Golden State sorted through Kuminga’s restricted free agency status.
The 22-year-old forward has yet to agree to terms on either a qualifying offer or long-term deal, leaving the front office in a holding pattern. Horford’s commitment, however, shows the franchise is ready to push forward in its pursuit of another title run.
Melton, meanwhile, adds a different dimension. The 26-year-old guard only appeared in six games for Golden State last season, averaging 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists on 40.7% shooting from the field and 37.1% from deep before a torn ACL ended his year.
He was later traded to the Brooklyn Nets but never suited up for them. Despite the setback, the Warriors see value in his defensive tenacity, perimeter shooting, and ability to play both guard positions. His deal, like Horford’s, will be finalized only after Kuminga’s situation is resolved.
For Golden State, the moves are both practical and symbolic. Horford provides Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler with a pick-and-pop big man who can defend multiple positions and stretch the floor, which will be a welcome addition for Draymond Green, their leader on that end of the floor. Melton, if healthy, offers much-needed backcourt depth behind Curry and Brandin Podziemski.
Together, they strengthen the roster while reinforcing the team’s belief that their veteran-heavy core: Curry at 37, Butler at 36, Green at 35, and Horford at 39, can still contend if properly supported.
Horford also joins an exclusive historical company, becoming one of only four players in NBA history with at least 900 made threes and 1,300 blocks. Melton, on the other hand, represents the Warriors’ bet on upside, hoping his return to health will give them the kind of two-way guard every playoff team covets.
The message is clear: the Warriors aren’t done. These commitments are the first dominoes to fall, and once Kuminga’s contract status is resolved, Golden State could be poised for an even bigger offseason shakeup.
