No one epitomized the Golden State Warriors' struggles in Wednesday's season opener more than De'Anthony Melton, with the veteran guard going scoreless and recording just two rebounds and two assists against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena.
The Warriors prioritized a reunion with Melton over trying to land Anfernee Simons in free agency, proving a move that's already backfiring early in the season given the 28-year-old's struggles haven't been limited to Wednesday's encounter.
Warriors choosing De'Anthony Melton over Anfernee Simons is already backfiring
Golden State need an offensive spark while Jimmy Butler remains sidelined recovering from his torn ACL, but Melton evidently isn't the answer in that regard. He scaled up into a bigger role but his efficiency fell off a cliff late last season, and he's now scored 26 total points in six games across 112 minutes dating back to the start of preseason.
He shot 26.9% from the floor and 25% from 3-point range during the five preseason games, before taking only two field-goal attempts in his 21 minutes against the Lakers, having also struggled to make an impact defensively where he once built his reputation.
In fact, you'd be mistaken for thinking Melton didn't actually play in Wednesday's game, such was his scarce impact on both ends of the floor. His most notable play actually eventuated in the second quarter when he tried to go coast-to-coast in transition, only to meet multiple Lakers defenders in the paint where he had the ball stolen. It resulted in a quick timeout and an enraged Steve Kerr who's been on his team about their turnover issues.
The frustrating element for Melton is that the season opener provided a major opportunity, having been ushered back into the starting lineup with the absence of Brandin Podziemski. With the fourth-year guard expected back later in the week, Melton's minutes could be trimmed pretty significantly given his current form and lack of impact.
Anfernee Simons shines in debut game for the 76ers
On the other hand, Simons put aside an injury-interrupted preseason to showcase the sort of shooting and general shot-making the Warriors desperately lack during his debut with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Simons had 13 points and two rebounds on 5-of-10 shooting in 25 minutes off the bench on Tuesday night, playing his part as the 76ers upset the reigning champion New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
The Warriors may quickly end up regretting choosing Melton over a Simons pursuit. The offensive upgrade could have been significant to a team that lacks firepower on that end, and Melton's defense may not be enough to make up for that differential.
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