The Golden State Warriors traded for 2023 FIBA World Cup MVP Dennis Schroder from the Brooklyn Nets last Sunday. This decision followed the loss of guard DeAnthony Melton due to a season-ending ACL injury after just six games and concerns about sophomore Brandin Podziemski’s performance after a promising rookie year. The Warriors aimed to bolster their backcourt as the season began.
Former Washington Wizards All-Star Gilbert Arenas praised the addition of Schroder, suggesting it indirectly acknowledges mistakes in managing Klay Thompson’s situation. Arenas remarked, “I actually like the move… It indicates to Klay that we were wrong; we shouldn’t have relied so much on Podziemski because he’s not delivering.”
The Warriors’ trade for Schroder underscores their recognition of this mistake. Podziemski was expected to step up after starting 28 games last season when Thompson missed time and ultimately left Golden State. Steve Kerr had hoped to mentor Podziemski alongside Steph Curry this season. However, he has struggled to find his rhythm, averaging only 7.7 points per game on a low shooting percentage. With Golden State’s poor recent performance, they decided to acquire Schroder, whom Arenas believes will provide valuable support.
The spotlight on the Klay-Podz discussion intensified after Thompson scored 29 points against the Warriors recently, while Podziemski had a lackluster performance. Schroder, this season, has been performing better with averages of 18.4 points and 6.6 assists. Meanwhile, Thompson’s scoring has dipped to 14.0 points per game, although he still has the potential to perform exceptionally in key games—something the Warriors have been missing this year.
