NBA News

Home

Teams

Quizzes

Watch

Newsletter

Buddy Hield. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

How the Warriors' new veteran acquisitions can improve team

By Justin Kim | Last updated Jul 8, 2024 5:55 PM ET

The Golden State Warriors have had a busy offseason, highlighted by trading franchise icon Klay Thompson and waiving 12-time All-Star Chris Paul. Yet Golden State managed to recoup and potentially even exceed these losses by acquiring Kyle Anderson, De'Anthony Melton and Buddy Hield, all of whom are poised to be solid contributors.

Here's how each of the new veteran additions can elevate the Warriors:

Kyle Anderson | Power forward | 6-foot-9, 230 pounds

Anderson's defensive versatility (7-foot-2 wingspan) and his ability to coordinate an offense make him not only an ideal fit with the Warriors but also their most valuable acquisition of the offseason.

Additionally, Anderson, who averaged 6.4 PPG and 4.2 APG this past season, represents outstanding value for Golden State at just $9 million per year.

The Warriors offense is predicated on off-ball movement and screens to create open looks, areas where Anderson has demonstrated his basketball IQ to be a key cog and serve as a catalyst in this system.

Slo Mo was locked in pic.twitter.com/YpySUaHJ66
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 29, 2024

Given Draymond Green's unpredictable availability — he has missed 72 games since the start of the 2021-2022 season due to injury and disciplinary factors — Anderson's veteran leadership and comparable skillset will prove crucial for the Warriors, who have lacked a reliable backup power forward in recent seasons.

Anderson can step into Green's role as needed regardless of Green's availability, whether it's starting in Green's absence or coming off the bench when Green is available.

De'Anthony Melton | Shooting guard | 6-foot-3, 200 pounds

Melton's ability to create his own shot is notable (11.1 PPG), but his greatest contribution to Golden State could be his defense.

If De'Anthony Melton can get healthy he will provide the Warriors with some serious perimeter defense

His D-LEBRON grade compared to other guards

2019: A
2020: A+
2021: A+
2022: A
2023: A-
2024: A https://t.co/Ai6dcneUQH
— BBall Index (@The_BBall_Index) July 2, 2024

With Golden State ranking 16th in defensive rating last season, Melton's point-of-attack defense and solid floor-spacing (36.9% career three-point shooter) will help the Warriors on both ends of the court.

A dependable perimeter defender like Melton can reduce breakdowns in coverages stemming from over-helping and erratic rotations while also allowing for more conventional positional matchups elsewhere. His role in defending the other team's best guard will enable primary ball-handlers such as Stephen Curry or Brandin Podziemski to conserve their energy to generate offense.

However, Melton's availability remains a concern (he missed 44 games because of injuries and illness last season). To secure a playoff spot, the Warriors need Melton to be more available.

Buddy Hield | Shooting guard | 6-foot-4, 220 pounds

Hield is no Thompson, but his three-point shooting is potent enough to punish teams for doubling Curry while costing a fraction of Thompson's price at just $9 million per year. The former 76er averaged 12.1 PPG last season on 38.6% shooting from three and leads the NBA in made threes since the 2019-2020 season (1,322), per StatMuse.

The Oklahoma product doesn't offer much else besides his shooting, but luckily for Hield, Golden State's system won't demand much more from him.

These on-the-margin moves alone don't move the needle for Golden State's championship odds.

However, they will make a substantial difference if the Warriors can land a viable second scoring option to play with Curry.

Justin Kim

More must-reads: