Steph, Draymond excited about Warriors trade for ‘competitor’ Schröder originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – It’s clear the Warriors’ newest member, Dennis Schröder, is excited to become teammates with future Hall of Famers Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.
However, Schröder’s joy pales in comparison to Curry and Green’s elation.
“He’s a real competitor,” Curry said of Schröder on Sunday after the Warriors’ 143-133 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. “Can create, score, run an attack, a whole setup. I’m excited to see him hook up. A guy I can play with in the backcourt can take on a lot of ball-handling responsibility when I’m off the field. Gives us another guy who can attack a defense and on the other hand, he loves to compete.
“He also digs into the defense. So there should be a seamless transition for him. We’ll see what it looks like.”
Curry has firsthand experience against Schröder, as the two guards have faced each other 17 times, according to Statmuse.com. Both are listed as point guards, but “combo guard” is a more accurate description for them. Everyone can play on or off the ball.
Green likes what he has seen from Schröder, who entered the NBA in 2013 – a year before Draymond – as a first-round draft pick (17th overall) of the Atlanta Hawks.
“I like the attitude he carries himself with,” Green said. “He acts like he always belongs in every room. I respect such people. I look forward to becoming teammates and getting to know him better. But I know who he is and what he is, and that’s what’s important.”
At 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds, Schröder (pronounced SHROO-dah) fills the role previously held by De’Anthony Melton, who was signed in July and became a starter before his season ended on Nov. 12 when he took a suffered a partially torn injury. left VKB requiring surgery.
Schröder is expected to join Curry in Golden State’s backcourt.
Curry and Green were also particularly pleased with the urgency with which Golden State’s front office explored the move. General manager Mike Dunleavy and his lieutenants went after Schröder last week and completed the deal Sunday, the fastest allowed under NBA rules.
“It certainly gives us an idea of what the front office is feeling and thinking,” Green said. “Mike has been great since he stepped into that role. Having that sense of urgency to get that deal done like that (snaps fingers) just continues to prove why he is who he is, why he took over that role and why he will continue to be great in this league as a general manager. .”
Both Green and Curry were consulted prior to the trade, which sent Melton and two-way guard Reece Beekman to the Nets, along with three future second-round picks. The Warriors also received a second-round pick from Brooklyn.
“With Bob [former GM Myers] and with Mike, it’s always a conversation if something is real or if something is worth having a serious conversation so that I can be involved in that moment,” Curry said. “I don’t want to be distracted by what-if questions and all that stuff. It happened quite quickly. “I’m excited about the opportunity to play with a guy we’ve played against for a long time.”
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