The Warriors are reportedly at the doorstep of making their first trade of the season.
Golden State, per multiple reports, is finalizing a deal to acquire Dennis Schroder from the Brooklyn Nets. ESPN’s Shams Charania, The Athletic’s Anthony Slater, Marc Stein and others reported details of the trade first.
The Warriors are likely to send De’Anthony Melton and a package of second-round picks to the Nets, per multiple reports. Melton is out for the season with a torn ACL and becomes trade-eligible on Sunday, Dec. 15.
Schroder, 31, is having a fantastic season for the Nets, who have overachieved. He’s averaging 18.4 points and 6.6 assists per game while shooting 38.7% from 3. While he’s undersized at 6-foot-1, Schroder can be a pesky defender.
Schroder would fit with the Warriors as an on-ball creator and second-unit initiator. Their late-game offense has been especially clunky and could use another option next to Steph Curry to handle ball pressure.
Earlier this year, Schroder dropped 31 points in as many minutes in a win over the Warriors at the Chase Center.
“Schroder was phenomenal tonight,” Kerr said after that loss.
Schroder is in his 13th season and is a career 32% 3-point shooter. His stops with the Nets, Thunder and Lakers were much more productive than his brief stints in Boston and Houston.
If the package is as reported, the Warriors will have brought in a contributor — and possibly someone who can close games — without giving up their best trade assets in their first-round picks, Jonathan Kuminga or Brandin Podziemski.
Because Schroder’s expiring $13 million salary is so similar to Melton’s, and the Warriors are enough below the first apron, the teams can do a one-for-one swap.
Asked about Schroder’s potential fit on the Warriors, veteran wing Andrew Wiggins said the point guard would fit with any team.
“He’s an explosive, quick guard that can kind of do it all,” Wiggins said. “He defends, can get to the rim, get people involved. Really good player.”
This is a developing story.