Warriors solidify contender status with season-changing trade

Sources tell Charania that Brooklyn will Schröder and one second-round pick to Golden State in exchange for injured guard De’Anthony Melton and three second-rounders.

Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, who first reported that Brooklyn’s return would include Melton’s expiring contract and second-round compensation, suggest the deal is on track to be completed on Sunday, when Melton officially becomes trade-eligible.

Fischer hears that the two teams also discussed Nets forward Cameron Johnson, but he won’t be included in this trade. However, Warriors two-way player Reece Beekman may be added to Golden State’s outgoing package, Fischer notes.

Both Melton and Schröder are on expiring contracts and will hit free agency in 2025. Melton earns $12.8M this season, while Schröder makes $13M.

Melton, 26, signed a one-year deal for the non-taxpayer mid-level exception with the Warriors over the offseason to try to rebuild his value following an extended injury absence last season due to a back injury. Unfortunately, the defensive stalwart suffered a partially torn ACL just six games into his tenure with Golden State, requiring him to undergo season-ending surgery.

Schröder is off to an excellent start to the 2024-25 campaign and is a major reason why the Nets have been surprisingly competitive to this point. In 23 games, all starts (33.6 MPG), he’s averaging 18.4 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 6.6 APG and 1.1 SPG on .452/.387/.889 shooting.

Charania reported earlier this week that the Nets had been discussing trades involving Schröder, Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith, with the Warriors expressing interest in all three players. Now a deal for Schröder is being finalized.

A couple of reports indicated Brooklyn was hoping to land a first-round pick for Schröder, but the team ultimately accepted a net gain (pun not intended) of two second-rounders.

According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Nets continue to be active in trade discussions, particularly involving Johnson and Finney-Smith.