The Warriors complete 2 more signings after closing Al Horford's deal

The 2025 NBA Free Agency had been on hold in recent weeks. However, it was still expected that the Golden State Warriors would close the Jonathan Kuminga soap opera to make their respective signings. Therefore, in just 24 hours, the Bay Area franchise has secured the acquisitions of Al Horford, De'Anthony Melton, and Gary Payton II.

Although the signings are not yet official, all indications are that the additions will be finalized once the future of Jonathan Kuminga is determined, whose contractual situation has kept the management in intense negotiations less than 48 hours away from the deadline to accept his qualifying offer.

Melton is already familiar with wearing the Warriors' jersey, although his time with the franchise was brief and unfortunate. After signing a one-year contract in 2024, a torn anterior cruciate ligament in mid-November derailed his season. Before the injury, he had shown promising flashes with averages of 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.2 steals in 20.2 minutes. He was later traded to the Brooklyn Nets in a salary move, but now he will have the opportunity to prove himself in the Bay Area.

On the other hand, Gary Payton II is gearing up for his sixth consecutive season with Golden State, a testament to the franchise's trust in his specific role. Despite injury problems that have marked his career, Payton remains one of the top perimeter defensive specialists in the NBA.

In the last season, he averaged 6.5 points and 3 rebounds in just 15 minutes per game, modest numbers but reflecting his impact as an energy and intensity piece in Steve Kerr's rotations.

Horford, veteran presence for the ring

The third commitment is perhaps the most eye-catching: Al Horford, at 39 years old, chose the Warriors to extend his career. The Dominican, with an impeccable NBA trajectory, arrives not only to log minutes in the paint but also to play a key role in the quest for the championship ring with Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, and company.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Los Warriors completan 2 fichajes más tras cerrar el de Al Horford