SAN FRANCISCO โ The recent trade bringing Dennis Schroder to the Golden State Warriors sparked a joyful reaction from his young son, Dennis Jr., lightening an otherwise tense situation. The excited 5-year-old learned they would be joining a team with Stephen Curry, and he couldnโt contain his enthusiasm for the star player, already sporting a No. 30 jersey. From a childโs perspective, his quick remarks about being fortunate to join a strong team brought a smile to Schroderโs face amid his mixed feelings about another trade. โHeโs definitely a big fan of Steph. He watches every game, and I canโt wait for him to see Curry in action,โ Schroder chuckled, recounting that his son was more curious about Curry than his fatherโs well-being after the trade news.
Schroder, who is known for his defensive prowess, is eager to team up with Curry and Draymond Green, adding their accolades to his list of playing alongside greats. He expressed excitement during a formal introduction at Chase Center, stating, โI canโt wait for Thursday to get after it with these guys. Itโs going to be something special.โ Following practice, he is set to make his debut against the Memphis Grizzlies, opting to wear jersey No. 71, a nod to his late fatherโs favorite number, 17.
Coach Steve Kerr is looking forward to possibly starting Schroder alongside Curry but also confirmed that Schroder will certainly run the minutes when Curry is off the floor. Schroder has a solid history against the Warriors, averaging 18 points per game, something Kerr acknowledges as he anticipates his contributions to the team. โI like feisty players,โ Kerr remarked, emphasizing how Schroderโs competitive spirit will be vital to the teamโs closing game strategy.
General Manager Mike Dunleavy is optimistic this trade will yield long-term benefits for the franchise. The Warriors are in dire need of a scoring boost as they seek to improve their offensive performance. โShifting our approach is necessary for maximizing our strengths,โ he noted. This move comes as the franchise aims to capture another championship while stars Curry and Green are still in their prime, with Curry nearing 37 and Green 35.
The prospect of playing alongside Hall of Famer Green excites Schroder, who is looking forward to the new dynamic. โCompeting against Green has always been tough. Now, itโll be amazing to partner on the court,โ he shared. Green, on his part, emphasizes the need for the team to adapt to Schroderโs style of play rather than forcing him into their existing system. โOur style isnโt necessarily his; we need to adjust to bring out his strengths,โ he mentioned.
In a separate transaction, the Warriors traded injured guard DeโAnthony Melton and fellow guard Reece Beekman to the Nets, where Melton will be out for the season due to a left ACL surgery. Brooklyn will also receive three second-round picks in the upcoming years while Golden State acquires a protected second-round pick from Miami.
Dunleavy consistently keeps Curry and Green informed about trade discussions, noting, โThey donโt pressure me into trades; they trust the process.โ He confirmed both were fully supportive of adding Schroder to the roster, marking an important step for the Warriors as they aim to contend for another title.