TRADE: Brooklyn Nets sending Dennis Schroder to Golden State Warriors for seconds

Assuming “finalizing” is more urgent than ‘serious pursuit’ is more urgent than “exploratory talks” this is it, the first and likely biggest move of Nets vets. Stay tuned.

The deal apparently is done if not official.

Dennis Schroder is headed to the Golden State Warriors for the injured De’Anthony Melton but not a first round as many had hoped. Instead, the Warriors will provide three seconds to the Nets while the Brooklyn will forward a second to Golden State, giving the Nets one additional second for their growing stash. The similarly sized Melton tore his ACL last month and will not return to the NBA this season. Early reports had Reese Beekman, a Warrior two-way, included in the deal, but later reports omitted his name. The final order of the trade won’t be known until at least Sunday. That’s the first day Melton and 79 other NBA players signed in the off-season becomes available.

As if to signal that the Nets are still intent on getting the highest pick in the rich 2025 NBA Draft, Sean Marks was at the Rutgers-Seton Hall game in New Brunswick, N.J. to once again witness top projected pick Dylan Harper’s buzzer beater. Marks has personally scouted the Rutgers duo of Harper and Ace Bailey at least four times.

The trade will leave a gaping holes both in the starting line-up and team leadership, adding to the sense, never acknowledged, that the Nets want a high a place in the draft lottery as possible, aka a tank. Assuming the Nets are not pursuing another point guard, they’re left with only Ben Simmons as a primary PG. Shake Milton and Keon Johnson have been pressed into service of late and once he returns, Cam Thomas may see action there as well.

Killian Hayes who signed to a training camp contract then a G League deal with the Long Island Nets, would seem one possible replacement, assuming the Nets release Melton and create a roster spot. He’s averaged 12.3 points, 6.6 assists, 2.3 turnovers and 1.8 steals but with shooting splits of only 42/28/60. But Melton’s contract could have another use. As long as the deal is completed Sunday, the Nets can, per Keith Smith of Spotrac, use his contract in yet another trade at the deadline on February 6 or the day before. making Melton’s contract the equivalent of a $12.7 million trade exception.

Marc Stein and Jake Fischer then Shams Charania were first to confirm a days’ worth of speculation of Warrior interest in not only Schroder but Dorian Finney-Smith and Cam Johnson…

Mike Scotto further detailed the trade…

Schroder and Melton have similar contracts — both expiring and within $300,000 of each other, helping the trade meet the onerous rules of the CBA.

The Warriors Bobby Marks notes have four seconds in the next seven drafts:

Bobby Marks also notes that the Nets will now have 13 second rounders to go with the 15 first rounders between 2025. the total rivaling Oklahoma City’s legendary horde. Twelve of the firsts and all of the seconds can be traded.

The ESPN insider also disclosed that in ESPN’s upcoming ranking of trade candidates, which will be out Monday, league officials unanimously chose Schroder as most likely NBA player to be moved…

The news of comes after hours of rapidly escalating speculation among NBA reporters who had said the Nets and Warriors were in “exploratory talks: to “serious pursuit” to “finalization.”

Jake Fischer was even more specific…

Schroder is averaging 18.4 points, 6.6 assists, 1.1 steals and has been a solid defender. It could easily be argued that this was his best year of seven in the NBA. More than one reporter has opined that Schroder is the most important Nets player. An extension of Jordi Fernandez, Schroder became an instant fan favorite when traded by the Raptors to the Nets at the deadline last season for Spencer Dinwiddie. He has let anyone who would listen know that he did not want to be traded, did not want to leave Brooklyn, both the borough and the organization. He said he and family feel very comfortable in Brooklyn.

The trade will soothe a lot of fans who want the Nets to forget winning and pile up enough losses so their lottery pick will be as high as possible. Currently the Nets are No. 9 in Tankathon’s daily mock draft update, but they are 3 ¹⁄₂ games out of the fourth worst record, held now by the Raptors.

• Sources: Warriors acquiring Dennis Schroder from Nets – Shams Charania – ESPN
• Nets trading Dennis Schroder to Warriors as first Brooklyn domino falls – Brian Lewis – New York Post
• Nets seemingly commit to tank; finalizing deal that will send veteran Dennis Schröder to Warriors: source – C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News
• Grading Nets-Warriors Dennis Schroder trade – Erik Slater – Clutch Points