Warriors plug biggest hole with trade for Nets guard

The 31-year-old Schroder is averaging 18.4 points this season for the Brooklyn Nets, which would put him second on the often offensively-challenged Warriors, behind Stephen Curry. He's shooting 38.7 percent from three-point range and should replace what Melton gave the Warriors as a ball handler, spot-up shooter and perimeter defender.

The closeness of Schroder and Melton's salaries made Brooklyn a convenient trade partner for the Warriors, who have very little room under the first luxury tax apron, where they are hard-capped. Schroder makes roughly $200K more, making him a perfect trade target.

The Warriors and head coach Steve Kerr have also seen Schroder excel against them in big games. In 2023, Schroder helped the Los Angeles Lakers down the Warriors in the second round of the playoffs. Later in the summer, he helped the German national team upset Team USA in the semifinals of the FIBA World Cup — with Kerr coaching the Americans.

If the Warriors can overcome welcoming a longtime rival into the fold, something they did last year with Chris Paul, Schroder an ideal addition. The nature of the picks exchanged is still unknown, with three going from Golden State to Brooklyn and one going the other way, but it's a reasonable price for the Warriors to correct one of their biggest weaknesses.

As for Brooklyn, they're in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, but only 10-15. Even that record has exceeded expectations. But thanks to a trade with the Houston Rockets, Brooklyn now has their own first-round picks again in 2025 and 2026, so they are likely interested in tanking. Trading a starting point guard for a player who is out for the season goes a long way in that effort.

Schroder will help the Warriors win. Not having him will help the Nets lose. It's a trade that helps both teams fulfill their goals for this season.