Compete with the Warriors? The Lakers intend to strengthen the backcourt, and injured defender Melton is on the signing list

On May 26, new trends came from the NBA transfer market. According to the latest disclosure of The Athletic reporter Jowan Buha, Brooklyn Nets guard Dantony Melton has become one of the key reinforcement targets for the Los Angeles Lakers.

The 26-year-old defender has experienced a major career turn this season. While playing for the Golden State Warriors in November last year, Melton was forced to undergo surgery due to injury, resulting in early reimbursement of the 2024-25 season. Before the trade deadline in February this year, the Warriors sent it as a trading lead to the Brooklyn Nets.

Interestingly, despite the troubles of injuries, Melton's games this season still showed considerable value. In the 12 regular season games before the injury, he averaged 10.3 points per game, of which the three-point shooting percentage remained at a high level of 37.1%, which is the Lakers urgently needed for the outside firepower. It has both defensive hardness and projection ability, which just matches the team building ideas of the Purple and Gold Legion looking for "3D" players.

Sources revealed that the Lakers management has listed Melton as a key observer for the offseason. Given that the player's existing contracts will expire this summer, the Nets are likely not to provide a qualification offer, meaning Melton is most likely to enter the market as a free agent. However, the recovery of his injuries will still be a key factor for each team to consider.

League insiders pointed out that if Melton can pass the July physical examination, this dual-sports guard with six years of NBA experience may become an extremely cost-effective choice in the free agent market. For the Lakers with tight salary space, this may be a low-risk and high-reward reinforcement opportunity, but there was previously information that Melton also intends to return to the Warriors.