Dennis Schroder is the newest Warrior, but that title may not last long.
Golden State was looking to add scoring help for Stephen Curry. It got it in Schroder, who is averaging 18.4 points and 6.6 assists this season. However, Schroder is not quite enough to lift the Warriors to contender status, which is the goal the franchise seems to be pursuing this season. That means more moves could be coming.
During an appearance on NBA Countdown, ESPN’s Shams Charania stated that “this doesn’t keep the Warriors outside the big game hunting.”
“I’m told they remain active in the hunt for a star player, and they can aggregate Schroder’s contract in a bigger move later this season,” Charania added.
What kind of big moves could those be, and how does the Schroder trade change the team’s outlook?
SN’s NBA HQ: Live NBA scores | Updated NBA standings | Full NBA schedule
Best Warriors trade targets after Dennis Schroder deal
The Warriors did lose some draft equity by making the Schroder trade, but it wasn’t much. They sent out three second-round picks and received a protected pick in return.
That gives them one unprotected second-round pick in 2030 and two bad second-rounders available to trade. They also have two unprotected first-round picks and another protected first-rounder in 2030. That’s not a bad draft stash.
The timing of the Schroder trade is important. By making the deal before Dec. 17, the Warriors are able to move him again during a two-day window, from Feb. 4 to Feb. 6. And if they choose to retain him for the rest of the year, he’s an expiring salary that won’t impact their plans long-term. It’s a low-risk move that doesn’t block bigger deals if they become available.
About that bigger deal — the Warriors still have enough picks and prospects to make a very competitive offer for Jimmy Butler. A combination of Schroder, Andrew Wiggins, Gary Payton II and Jonathan Kuminga, along with several first-round picks, might be enough to land the Heat star.
MORE: How Warriors can acquire Jimmy Butler to help Stephen Curry win another title
Here’s another more unlikely scenario: Would the Warriors spin the tires on a Paul George trade again? They were interested in the star during the offseason but lost out to that bidding to the Sixers.
The 76ers are in a freefall, have lost one of their best players in Jared McCain for potentially the season and could finally throw in the towel if Joel Embiid’s sinus fracture keeps him out for a while. They owe their 2025 pick to the Thunder if it falls outside of the top six. If things get bad enough, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that they’d try to move George.
There are plenty of mid-tier players the Warriors could obtain. Cameron Johnson, Kyle Kuzma and Jerami Grant fill needs at the wing. Nikola Vucevic and Jakob Poeltl are available at reasonable $20 million salaries if the team decides to add more big man depth.
There’s still room for internal improvement as well. The Schroder trade signifies that the Warriors weren’t getting enough from second-year player Brandin Podziemski, who has taken a big step back after a promising rookie year.
TRADE GRADES: Warriors add win-now scoring punch with Schroder, Nets shift focus to future
Podziemski was considered untouchable in the Paul George trade talks, and he has not justified that high valuation. He’s shot just 37.6 percent from the field and 25.0 percent from 3. His performance towards the end of the Warriors’ loss to the Mavericks on Sunday was particularly rough.
Podziemski had Luka all over him in the corner and the Warriors let him drown pic.twitter.com/4YEkiJMQ08
— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) December 16, 2024
Kerr has praised Podziemski publicly, but Schroder will likely eat into his minutes once he joins the team on Monday.
Kuminga could also add to Golden State’s ceiling if he isn’t moved. He has looked better since being inserted in the starting lineup on Dec. 3, averaging 20.8 points per game over six outings.
The Warriors still have a lot of time before the Feb. 6 trade deadline. The Schroder trade was a nice start, but it may not have been the end.
MORE NBA NEWS:
