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Shams Charania, Senior NBA Insider
The Golden State Warriors have agreed on a deal to acquire Brooklyn Nets point guard Dennis Schroder for De’Anthony Melton, sources told ESPN on Saturday.
The Warriors are also receiving one second-round pick from the Nets and sending three second-round picks to Brooklyn in the deal, sources said.
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.
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. He has taken strides as an outside shooter as well, attempting a career-high 6.5 3-pointers per game on nearly 39% shooting.
The Nets entered the weekend in 10th place in the conference and four losses back of the No. 6 seed.
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 their 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 Steve Kerr with another veteran.
The Warriors coach said prior to the trade being reported on Saturday afternoon that the loss of Melton sent his rotation into flux. Kerr has been searching for the right combinations to play on a nightly basis. Melton was seen as a perfect fit alongside Stephen Curry with his two-way skillset and ability to handle the ball.
“[It] changed everything,” Kerr said on early Saturday afternoon after Warriors practice. “De’Anthony was a guy who could help get us organized offensively as a secondary ball handler, pick-and-roll guy, but also be an on-ball defender, spot-up shooter. We’re mixing and matching around his absence for sure.
“But I love the guys on this team, on this roster. I think we have a lot of depth and yes, we’re mixing and matching, but that’s what is required right now and that’s what we’re going to continue to do.”
Schroder, 31, is on an expiring contract worth $13 million.
ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk contributed to this report.
