The Golden State Warriors made a savvy move in trading for veteran point guard Dennis Schroder from the Brooklyn Nets, and this could be exactly what they need to stabilize their rotation as they continue to navigate a rocky start to the season.
The Warriors sent De’Anthony Melton, who is out for the season due to an ACL injury, along with three future second-round picks to Brooklyn in exchange for Schroder and a future second-round pick swap.
While the Warriors’ depth has long been praised, particularly for providing head coach Steve Kerr with options to surround Stephen Curry, it has become clear that Golden State struggles mightily when Curry isn’t on the floor.
According to NBA Advanced Stats, the Warriors are being outscored by 1.9 points per 100 possessions with Curry on the bench. Their offensive rating during these stretches ranks in the 4th percentile leaguewide, a far cry from last season when they were league-average without Curry and able to outscore opponents during his rest periods.
Much of that success last season was thanks to Chris Paul, who now plays for the Warriors’ former rival, the Golden State’s inability to replicate that same balance without him has been glaring.
Enter Schroder, who has been enjoying a career resurgence in Brooklyn. Averaging a career-high 18.4 points and 6.6 assists, Schroder has been the starting point guard for the Nets, and his all-around playmaking should offer a considerable upgrade over Brandin Podziemski, who has been thrust into a primary ball-handling role this season.
Podziemski has struggled significantly, shooting just 26.5% on pull-up 3s and 23.5% on catch-and-shoot opportunities. Adding Schroder not only provides stability at the point guard position but gives Podziemski the chance to develop without bearing the pressure of filling a veteran’s shoes.
Schroder’s addition brings a more experienced and productive presence to Golden State’s backcourt, and Kerr will need to find the right balance to integrate him effectively.
A high-volume pick-and-roll player with the Nets, Schroder will require a shift in the Warriors’ offensive structure, which typically revolves around Curry’s off-ball movement. With Schroder’s ability to initiate offense, Kerr might lean more heavily on pick-and-rolls, pairing him with the Warriors’ best roll man, Trayce Jackson-Davis, and surrounding them with shooters like Buddy Hield and Moses Moody.
Although this trade alone won’t elevate Golden State back to the top tier of the Western Conference, it does bolster a second unit that has struggled to maintain consistency. It’s also worth noting that the Warriors didn’t sacrifice any first-round picks, and they’ve positioned themselves well financially with Schroder’s relatively low salary and the ability to still pursue another big move down the line.
Overall, this trade addresses a critical need for the Warriors and provides them with a reliable option at point guard, especially with Curry’s minutes at a premium.
While this move won’t solve all their issues, it’s a solid step in the right direction as Golden State continues to push for playoff positioning in a highly competitive West.
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