Incorporation of Dennis Schröder Provides Significant Strength to Golden State
The Golden State Warriors secured point guard Dennis Schröder on Sunday, all without parting ways with any current in-game resources.
It was De'Anthony Melton's deal that headed towards Brooklyn, along with a handful of second-round draft picks. However, Melton's season is over due to a partially torn ACL, making him an irrelevant factor in the Warriors' plans.
By utilizing Schröder's $12.8 million contract, set to expire the following summer, the same as Melton's, the Warriors managed to find a substitute. This newcomer should comfortably manage the role of the sixth man for the rest of the season.
Schröder is currently enjoying a career-best year. His 18.4 points and record-breaking 6.6 assists are complemented by a 38.7% three-point accuracy, and an impressive true-shooting rating of 58.8%, also a career best.
The German point guard has recently tasted international success. In 2023, Germany clinched the World Cup title, and at the 2024 summer Olympics, they reached the bronze medal match.
Schröder is now part of a Warriors team that has claimed four championships since 2015, and which seems on its last competitive legs, given superstar Stephen Curry's age and the possibility of his early retirement.
The trade also hints at the Warriors' determination to succeed, regardless of the means. They could have merely let Melton's contract expire next summer, but instead, they chose to be active buyers, making an aggressive move to boost their depth.
Acquiring Schröder may not guarantee a title or even playoff success, but his speed and scoring instincts should blend well with this Warriors team, which fosters a culture where shooters don't have to constantly look over their shoulders before taking a shot.
Schröder is likely to spearhead the second unit, enabling him to choose his opportunities, with the constant assurance of the green light to shoot whenever Curry is off the court. However, he could also be used as a spot starter or even a full-time starter, if head coach Steve Kerr considers him a suitable fit with Curry.
As for Brooklyn, they secured what they required: assets for an expiring contract. Although they failed to extract a first-round pick from the Warriors for Schröder, given his contractual circumstances, they left with something beneficial for the future, allowing them to push forward even more in their rebuild.
In the modern NBA, win/win trades are a rarity, but we might just have witnessed one on Sunday.
All statistics from NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball-Reference, unless otherwise noted. All salary information from Spotrac, and all odds from FanDuel Sportsbook***.
The Golden State Warriors' acquisition of Dennis Schröder replaces De'Anthony Melton, who was heading towards the Brooklyn Nets. Schröder's current performance in the NBA, with his career-best statistics, could significantly contribute to the Warriors' lineup. Despite Stephen Curry's age and the possibility of early retirement, the Warriors show their determination to succeed by actively seeking new resources, as seen in the trade for Schröder.
