The first three games of Dennis Schröder’s stint with the Golden State Warriors have been an absolute nightmare. To put it simply, it’s hard to imagine how things could have gone worse for the veteran point guard. In these early games, the Warriors have managed only one win, and Schröder has found himself struggling, both on the court and in his integration with the team. In fact, his plus-minus over the last three games—sitting at a jaw-dropping minus-65—is the worst in the entire NBA during that span.
This abysmal statistic isn’t just some random outlier. A significant chunk of this negative plus-minus comes from the Warriors’ brutal 51-point blowout loss to Memphis, where Schröder was a key contributor to the disaster, posting a minus-34. That loss wasn’t just a tough blow for Schröder, but it also put players like Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green in the NBA’s bottom five for plus-minus in the same stretch. But even in the Warriors’ lone win during this period, a 10-point victory over Minnesota, Schröder couldn’t shake the bad vibes. He finished the game with a minus-nine, a far cry from the positive impact a player of his experience is supposed to bring.
Things got even worse in the Warriors’ Monday night loss to Indiana, where Schröder posted a game-worst minus-22 in 30 minutes. For a team like Golden State, which has been known for its high-powered offense and team-oriented basketball, these numbers are a red flag.
In terms of scoring, Schröder has put up a paltry 23 points on 29 shot attempts. His shooting percentages are way down compared to his career averages. He’s shooting just 27.6% from the field—well below his career average of 43.4%—and an even more alarming 9.1% from beyond the arc, a far cry from his 34.3% career clip from three. His free-throw shooting is also in a slump, sitting at 75%, a significant drop from his usual 83.7%. It’s not just the numbers that stand out either; the all-around performance has been lackluster, with Schröder also tallying seven turnovers, four rebounds, and a troubling balance of 11 fouls and 11 assists across the three games.
Golden State’s decision to acquire Schröder came with some question marks. The Warriors knew he wasn’t a perfect fit for their current roster, but they pulled the trigger on the trade anyway. The exchange was made, with Schröder coming over from a De’Anthony Melton trade, despite the Warriors already being aware of the awkward fit. So, with just three games under his belt, what’s the verdict so far? It’s clear that things have been rough—bordering on disastrous.
Given the current state of things, it’s fair to wonder if the Warriors might consider making another move before the trade deadline. One potential option is to take advantage of a little-known NBA rule tweak known as the “aggregation” rule, which allows teams to package a newly acquired player like Schröder with other contracts to facilitate a trade. Normally, NBA rules prevent players who have been traded from being moved again for 60 days, but this rule allows the Warriors to combine Schröder with other assets for a trade, despite the recent acquisition.
Originally, there was some speculation about whether this rule would give the Warriors the ability to trade Schröder before the February 6 deadline, but insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer clarified the situation. They revealed that while the rule technically allows for the aggregation of Schröder with other contracts, this can’t happen until after February 5. This delay means that Golden State will need to ride out Schröder’s rough start with the team until that point, hoping he can find a way to get his act together over the next six weeks.
The pressure on Schröder to turn things around is real, especially with the Warriors hoping to make a strong push for the playoffs. They’ll have to rely on his experience and versatility to become a better fit alongside superstar Steph Curry and the rest of the team. The Christmas Day game against the Los Angeles Lakers will be an early opportunity for Schröder to show improvement and make a more significant impact.
As for the Warriors, they’ve faced an uphill battle with this trade from the start. Though Schröder’s skill set as a veteran point guard is undeniable, his early struggles have raised questions about his place on the team moving forward. The next few weeks will be crucial for both Schröder and the Warriors. Will he find his rhythm and prove his worth? Or will Golden State need to look elsewhere for reinforcements?
This situation also raises some larger questions about the Warriors' roster-building strategy. With the team already dealing with injuries and the growing pains that come with integrating new players, the need for a smooth and efficient fit alongside Curry and the other core pieces becomes even more urgent. The clock is ticking, and the pressure is mounting as Golden State looks ahead to the busy weeks of the NBA season.
As for Schröder, his journey with the Warriors is still in its early stages, but the path forward seems uncertain. Will he become the impact player the Warriors hoped for? Or will this experiment quickly fall apart, leading to another trade or roster shake-up? Time will tell, but for now, Schröder has a lot of work to do to prove he can be a valuable part of this Golden State team.
The Warriors’ Christmas Day showdown with the Lakers is shaping up to be more than just another game on the schedule—it’s an important opportunity for Schröder to start turning his fortunes around. The stakes are high, and the basketball world will be watching to see how he responds.
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