Windhorst explains why the Warriors were lucky to trade Schröder originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Programming Note: Watch “Warriors Now” with Bonta Hill and Monte Poole at 4 p.m. PT today, live stream on the NBC Sports app. Watch the show later YouTube And Facebook.
The stars aligned for the Warriors acquire veteran goaltender Dennis Schröder of the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.
Golden State is limited to the first luxury tax apron due to the historic six-team deal they made in July, which included signings and trades. Before Sunday’s trade, the Warriors had approximately $534,000 under that apron.
That left little room for the Warriors to recoup money in a trade.
But Schröder earns just over $203,000 more this season than De’Anthony Meltonwho was sent to the Nets with three future second-round picks.
With Melton out for the season due to a torn ACL and The Warriors struggle to score late in the gamethey jumped at the first opportunity – December 15 when Melton became tradable – to swap salaries.
“It’s the dream acquisition and not because he’s a superstar player,” NBA analyst Brian Windhorst said Monday on ESPN’s “NBA Today.” “But No. 1, they really haven’t added any talent here because Melton is out for the year with a torn ACL. Brooklyn is trying to lose more and frankly Schroder has been so good they’re winning too many games Seriously, they’re kind of giving them away for draft picks. So that’s one thing, they’re trading an injured guy for a guy who can help right away.
“The second thing is they must have really threaded a needle here, because with their salaries in the aprons. Long story short, they can only do a job where they accept a salary of $500,000 or less. They have been extremely lucky that Schröder only made $200,000 more than Melton So this deal was actually slipped under the apron where they were allowed, they were able to do it without losing a rotation player because. Melton was hurt from the first, literally the first moment they were able to trade Melton, December 15th, they had this deal ready to go.
After the Schröder trade, the Warriors are now $330,408 under the first tax apronaccording to GSW CBA.
Schröder, averaging a career-high 18.4 points per game this season, will practice with the Warriors for the first time on Tuesday and play against the Memphis Grizzlies THURSDAY.
Whether Schröder will start or come off the bench remains to be seen, but Marc J. Spears of Andscape likes the way the 12-year NBA veteran is fitting in with the Warriors.
“He’s a much better player than a guy with a blonde in his hair in Atlanta,” Spears said Monday on “NBA Today.” “I think he’s a huge acquisition for the Warriors. They desperately need him over the last couple of games. Someone to give them a little more scoring. A floor general. He makes their backcourt a little small with him and Steph, but he’s He’s arriving today He’ll be guarding Ja Morant on Thursday.
“He gives them the assists, the defense they need. He gives them a lot of needs. A lot of things they need right now. Spice. His drive to the hole. A tough defender. He’s a big pick- up for them. Congratulations to (general manager Mike) Dunleavy for filling the hole for Melton. And that’s what they wanted to do, is fill that hole for Melton. to get the next big one superstar.
The Warriors will take the next few weeks to see how Schröder fits into the roster. If Dunleavy and the front office feel another move is necessary, they will have the contracts, young talent and assets to make a splash.
