Target +1! Lakers and Warriors lock in one person, average 10 points per game, and are expected to win 10 million in 2 years

As the opening time of the NBA free agent market approaches, the two giants in the league - the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors - are preparing to throw an olive branch to Melton, one of the most underrated defensive experts in the league. According to previous reports, both teams will undergo an important lineup restructuring this offseason, and Melton has quietly become a low-cost, high-reward option.

According to Anthony Slater of Sports, the Warriors have determined Melton is a potential target. Lakers insider Jovan Buha also expressed the same interest in the Purple and Gold Army, which shows that both teams are considering whether top 76ers Melton will become their own backcourt player.

Melton is only 26 years old this year. He suffered an injury of torn ACL in just 6 games in the 2024-25 season, which gave the Warriors a headache. You should know that in these 6 games, he averaged 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game, with a shooting percentage of 40.7%, of which his three-point shooting percentage was 37.1%. After being injured, he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets, but he hadn't played for a minute due to injury. Melton earned 12.82 million last season and will be a full free agent this summer.

Although Melton suffered a major injury, it was actually not bad for a player like him. Previously, Melton was an important member of them during the Grizzlies' rise. Later, as the Philadelphia Sixers grew up, he became more comprehensive - able to defend 1-3 positions, have a three-pointer, and can organize offense. Among them, defensive versatility is his business card - Melton often defends the opponent's best perimeter threat, and his quick-handedness and defensive awareness make him a defensive expert, just like the Thunder's Carson Wallace style.

For teams like the Lakers and Warriors, in the 2025 playoffs, they are fighting faster guards on the defensive end (Huazi, Jaylen Green). If there are players like Melton, he can not only provide outside defense, but also fill in the rotation lineup. The key is that the price is not expensive, especially after returning from injury. League insiders said Melton could sign a one-to-two-year short-term "proof" contract, hoping to show his value before he re-entered the free agent market when he was almost 30 years old, and thus sign another big contract.

So, this may be ideal for competitors like the Lakers and Warriors. Because the team's salary space is in a hurry, they can only recruit Melton with a middle-class contract or a veteran's basic salary contract. About 10 million in two years is the right price. Among them, for the Warriors, he can cooperate well with Stephen Curry, with three-pointers and defense, which is easier to use than the younger Moody and Sister Bo. For the Lakers, Melton can be a substitute defender and even start with Doncic and James.