Is the Dennis Schröder Trade a Win for the Warriors?
After weeks of trade rumors circulating, the Golden State Warriors have made their first move, acquiring former Brooklyn Nets guard Dennis Schröder. In exchange, the Warriors are sending the Nets three second-round picks and De’Anthony Melton, along with a second-round pick from Brooklyn. Schröder might be familiar to Warriors fans, as he just dropped 31 points in Golden State’s loss to the Nets. The Warriors have been shopping for that extra piece to boost their NBA Finals hopes, and who better to provide that spark than the player who tore apart their defense?
Dennis “The Menace” Schröder is a pure scorer and a skilled pick-and-roll ball handler, making him a perfect fit to run the offense when Stephen Curry is off the court and to complement Curry when they're both on the floor. Schröder is the kind of player who creates his own shot, gets buckets, takes care of the ball, and brings a high basketball IQ and solid defense. This season, he’s averaging 18.4 points, 6.6 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. There's no downside to this trade. It addresses a clear need for the Warriors, and his scoring ability will ease the load on other players. Simply put, the Warriors' backcourt just got a whole lot stronger.
While Melton fit well with the Warriors, his injury ultimately led to the team pulling the trigger on the trade. Unfortunately, he’s out for the season with an ACL injury, meaning he won’t be able to contribute to the Warriors’ NBA Finals push this year. It’s important to also note Melton signed a one-year deal with Golden State, meaning he would be a free agent by the time he’s healthy again. The void he leaves will be filled by Schröder at a minimal cost, making this move all the more beneficial for Golden State.
One of the best parts of the deal is that the Warriors were able to keep their young stars Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, and their first-round picks. This gives them the flexibility to pursue another superstar trade if they see the opportunity. According to Shams Charania, the Warriors are taking full advantage of this, staying “active” in their search for a star player even after the Schröder trade. Since the Warriors didn’t have to give up much, it left them with more than one opportunity to further improve their team.
Regardless of what the Warriors’ next move might be, this trade should instill confidence. The reality is that Schröder was a smart move that improved their team at a great value. The Warriors are in win-now mode with Curry getting older, even if his playing does not show it. The addition of the former Nets guard brings Curry closer to his fifth ring, not farther away.
