Steve Kerr Excited to Coach Former Philadelphia 76ers Guard

Steve Kerr speaks on De'Anthony Melton's fit on Golden State Warriors.

Mar 18, 2023; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Buddy Hield (24) shoots the ball while Philadelphia 76ers guard De'Anthony Melton (8) defends in the second quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images / Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

In order to make room for all their new additions, the Philadelphia 76ers had to part ways with a handful of players this offseason. Among those was De'Anthony Melton, who ended up signing a one-year deal with the Golden State Warriors.

Melton came to Philly in a draft-night trade in 2022 with the Memphis Grizzlies. As an above average defender who could efficiently shoot from deep, he quickly emerged as a key member of the supporting cast. In his first season in Philly, Melton 10.1 PPG and shot 39% from deep as the Sixers' Sixth man.

Melton put up similar numbers last season, but failed to be a constant in the lineup. A nagging back injury sidelined him for a majority of the year, resulting in him playing in just 38 games. Following an injury-ridden campaign, the verteran guard now has to rebuild his stock in the league out West.

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Melton is joining a Warriors team that is entering a new phase following the departure of Klay Thomson. One thing he has going for him is that his coach seems to value his skill set. During a recent podcast appearance, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr praised Melton's game and views him as a strong connector piece in Golden State.

"He's a two-way player, which I love the ability to connect multiple lineups," Kerr said. "I think he brings that. He's a catch-and-shoot guy, so just watching him scrimmage this past week at Chase, our guys are playing pickup ball as they get ready for camp. I watched him knock down four straight threes in a scrimmage. But they were catch-and-shoot. No catch-and-hold. The game keeps going when he's out there."

Golden State might not be the perinnal contender they once were, but they're still a team that garners a lot of attention. Having a bounce-back year for them could be extremely beneficial for Melton in terms of his long-term value in the league. With his two-way play, he should be an ideal complement to Steph Curry in the backcourt.