Dennis Schröder also moved from the Brooklyn Nets to the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco. Germany's best development player is part of a trade between the two basketball franchises in the NBA. The horse-trading between teams, in which the players themselves have no say, is one of the peculiarities of US sport that makes it seem quite idiosyncratic in old Europe.
Wasn't it said that Dennis Schröder had played quite well so far? He really did. The 18.8 points and 6.6 assists for a team that is anything but outstanding are impressive. Why was Brooklyn so desperate to lose the player who led the team close to the playoff spots? Quite simply: it was precisely because he was so good that he was traded away.
In return, the Nets get two development players from the Warriors in De'Anthony Melton and Reece Beekman. While Melton will not be able to play until the end of the season due to a torn cruciate ligament, NBA newcomer Beekman has not yet been able to demonstrate his ability to play in the league. A supposedly worse deal for the Nets. But that's exactly what she wanted. You play not to win.
It was a significantly worse deal for the Brooklyn Nets – but it was exactly the kind of deal they wanted
In order to gain the right to access it as early as possible at the next draft, the ceremony at which the best young players are distributed to the clubs, a certain placement is required. The aim is to give the weaker teams the opportunity to build a powerful team with the best young talent of the season. And so the right to draft two players in the second round of the next draft is also part of Dennis Schröder's deal with the Golden State Warriors.
Unlike the Nets, superstar Stephen Curry's team wants to win as many games as possible. There are also hopes for something from Schröder's commitment. The fact that they need another guard in addition to the sniper Curry has been shown by the series of defeats the team has had to deal with since De'Anthony Melton was injured. Warriors coach Steve Kerr knows who is coming to the Bay now. He was the coach of the US team that was eliminated from the 2023 World Cup against Schröder's eventual tournament winners Germany. However, the NBA's tactics analysts quickly discovered that it would not be that easy to integrate them.
For the Nets, the game was geared towards Schröder. His teammates pulled their defenders outwards so that Schröder could go one-on-one to the basket. The Warriors do not have such so-called isolation plays in their program. But maybe they don't need Schröder to score. Kerr has already indicated that the now 31-year-old could be on the floor with Curry. He would then carry the ball forward for the shooter. Schröder was unable to cope with such a helper role during his time with the Lakers alongside LeBron James. The first indications of what it will be like this time will be available on Thursday. Schröder will play for Golden State for the first time against Memphis. Andreas Rüttenauer
