Shams Charania, Senior NBA InsiderDec 14, 2024, 04:20 PM ET
The Golden State Warriors have acquired Brooklyn Nets point guard Dennis Schroder in exchange for De’Anthony Melton, it was announced Sunday.
The Warriors are also receiving a 2025 second-round pick (via Miami) from the Nets, while Brooklyn gets Reece Beekman and three second-round picks (2026 and 2028 via Atlanta, 2029 via Golden State) in the deal.
Schroder has been one of the best guards in the NBA this year, pushing the Nets into play-in contention in the Eastern Conference early in the season.
“I’m thrilled,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said before Sunday’s game against the Mavericks. “I told Dennis today he’s kicked my [butt] on three different continents. You can’t beat ’em, join ’em — ’22 playoffs I thought he was brilliant against us with the Lakers. Watching him in FIBA the last two summers, Philippines and we played them in London in an exhibition game. He’s a gamer, he’s a competitor, pick-and-roll player, two-way player.”
In his first full season in Brooklyn since being traded from the Raptors last year, Schroder is averaging 18.4 points and a career-high 6.6 assists in 33.6 minutes per game. He has taken strides as an outside shooter as well, attempting a career-high 6.5 3-pointers per game on nearly 39% shooting. Schroder has also starred on the German national team in recent summers, including a World Cup MVP in 2023.
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The Nets entered the weekend in 10th place in the conference and four losses back of the No. 6 seed.
Schroder is expected to join the Golden State on Monday to undergo his physical and have a couple of practices ahead of Thursday’s game at Memphis.
Kerr said he and his staff will discuss Schroder’s role but considers him a likely starter considering “we’ve been changing our starting lineup almost nightly, searching.”
Schroder is projected to replace Melton in Kerr’s rotation as Melton, signed to a one-year deal this offseason, went down with a torn ACL last month and is out for the remainder of the season. The Warriors have struggled without him; after a hot start to the year, Golden State has lost seven of its past nine games.
Schroder fills several needs for the Warriors, including a much-needed additional point guard who can handle the ball, potentially help the second unit get organized, make outside shots and provide coach Steve Kerr with another veteran. The Warriors envision starting lineups with Schroder and Stephen Curry in the backcourt, sources said, with Schroder able to alleviate the ball-handling responsibilities at point guard.
“Losing Melt was a huge loss,” Kerr said. “I want to say thanks to De’Anthony and Reece Beekman for everything — their contributions, their commitment, their effort. It’s always hard to trade guys and we wish them both well. But you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do to get better and this was a move that we felt made perfect sense, so he will fill what Melt was doing for us in terms of being able to play on or off the ball, excellent defender, long wingspan. He’s a steals guy, forced turnovers, pace, everything that we need we feel like he can provide.”
Schroder, 31, is on an expiring contract worth $13 million.
Beekman appeared in two games for the Warriors this season, scoring two points. He averaged 18.7 points in 31.5 minutes over nine games with the Santa Cruz Warriors of the G League.
ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
