The Philadelphia 76ers have moved on from some intriguing players over the past few years, including a top remaining free agent.
The last two seasons in Philadelphia have been rather underwhelming. After missing the postseason entirely last season, the team is looking to regroup for a potential run in 2026.
Still, finding a way to not only overcome last season’s struggles but also the sour taste of a first-round exit in 2024 will be difficult. In theory, the 76ers want to at least find the same success they had in the 2022-23 campaign.
That season ended with a crushing second-round loss to the Boston Celtics, but it was arguably the closest the team has come to a title in the Joel Embiid era. One of the key contributors for that squad was De’Anthony Melton.
2023 marked the first of two seasons in Philadelphia for Melton, but it was easily his most memorable. Averaging double figures and being a defensive stopper, Melton showed his ability to be a championship-caliber role player, and others around the league took notice.
That led to his departure to the Golden State Warriors last offseason. After a season-ending torn ACL early last season and a trade to the Brooklyn Nets, Melton might soon find himself back in Golden State.
In a recent report from ESPN’s Anthony Slater, there is interest from the Warriors in bringing back Melton after his hot start last season. Melton would be joining a different version of the Warriors than he played with last season, as Jimmy Butler is now headlining the squad alongside Stephen Curry.
Although it’s now been a couple of years since Melton’s time in Philadelphia, if he can prove his worth again in Golden State or elsewhere, he might be viewed as the one that got away.
