The Warriors started the season 12-3, but it went downhill from there. After beating the New Orleans Pelicans for their 12th win, the Warriors lost the next five games. They have gone 2-8 in their last 10, signaling they need to shake things up. The first chance they got, the Golden State Warriors made a trade for Dennis Schroder. But is that really the move they needed?
The Warriors are Making another Chris Paul Mistake
The Warriors have been in this situation before. They have been trying to find a valuable backup for Steph Curry, someone who can also play alongside Curry for years. And so far, they have failed again and again to do it.
This time, they are making the same mistake they did last year with Chris Paul, or previously with D’Angelo Russell. Neither of them worked fine alongside Steph. Yes, Schroder gives them a lift offensively, and they didn’t give up much to get him. But, can he play alongside Steph?
Last year, they acquired Paul in a trade with the Washington Wizards. We can look at that trade as a way to get away from guard Jordan Poole, but essentially, the Warriors wanted someone to play alongside Steph. While CP3 is one of the oldest players in the league and battled injuries, he didn’t work out alongside Curry. Paul had his lowest assist season, averaging less than seven for the first time in his career.
Similar to CP3, Schroder needs the ball in his hands to be effective. He will not be the first, and maybe not the last player to fail in the Warrriors’ offensive movement system. If we look at Schroder’s stats, we can see that when he plays with a dominant ball-handler, for example, in the Lakers alongside LeBron James, his efficiency takes a hit. Yes, his assists went up slightly during the 2020-21 season, but his effective field goal percentage went down. We will judge the Warriors’ Schroder trade in the playoffs if the Warriors make it that far, but for now, it seems like they are repeating the same mistakes.
The Brandin Podziemski Issue
The Warriors rushed to make a trade for a guard because their offseason addition, De’Anthony Melton got injured and will miss the season. They also have seen Brandin Podziemski’s efficiency go down this year. In his rookie season, Brandin looked like an untouchable asset for the Warriors, a gem they found with the 19th pick.
This year, however, he looks completely different. His points are down slightly, but it is all about the percentage. His shooting went from 45.4% from the floor to 37.6%, and he has plummeted down to 25% from 3-point range. Schroder can fix some of those shooting woes, but he is not exactly known as a catch-and-shoot player.
The Warriors Not Done Making Moves After Schroder Trade?
According to some reports, the Warriors talked with the Nets about a bigger trade, one that would also bring Dorian Finney-Smith and Cam Johnson to the Bay area. Yet, the Warriors were not willing to let go of Jonathan Kuminga and wanted to keep a roster spot open. That trade would have helped with their perimeter defense and scoring.
But it is all about that roster spot. The fact that the Warriors wanted to keep a roster spot open means they are open for more business leading up to the deadline. Maybe revisiting that LeBron trade? Or pursuing players on the buyout market? We will wait and see.
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