Will Dennis Schroder make his debut tonight against Dallas Mavericks? Exploring Warriors' reported trade addition's status (Dec. 15)
Dennis Schroder, the latest addition to the Golden State Warriors lineup was expected to debut for the team during its upcoming matchup against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. However, as per latest reports the veteran guard will not play his debut game for Warriors .
As reported by ESPN's Shams Charania on Saturday, the Warriors traded De'Anthony Melton and three second-round picks to acquire Dennis Schroder from the Brooklyn Nets.
Schroder confirmed the news a few hours later, as he took to his social media to share a graphic of him clad in a Warriors jersey and the team's name in the caption.
In the 23 games he played in the season for the Nets, Schroder averaged 18.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.1 steals. He also shot 45.2% from the field and 38.7% from beyond the arc in 33.6 minutes of playtime per game.
How does Dennis Schroder fit into Warriors given their already undersized roster?
Dennis Schroder's acquisition adds yet another guard to the Golden State Warriors' lineup, which already has many guards but lacks size. Some of the lineups the team fielded this season featured a three-guard group, and the tallest players on the team are Trayce Jackson-Davis and Kevon Looney, who stand at 6-foot-9. For reference, the NBA's average size for a center is 6-foot-11.
However, Warriors coach Steve Kerr is well-known for his inclination toward small-ball units. Kerr is often willing to surrender size for a faster pace of play. The strategy has resulted in numerous successes for the Warriors over the years, and the addition of Schroder seemingly merges well with that narrative.
Ahead of their matchup on Sunday, the Warriors stand fifth in the Western Conference with a 14-10 record. They won three of their last 10 games after losing 91-90 to the Houston Rockets in their Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinal showdown on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks are fourth in the west with a 16-9 record. They have won eight of their last 10 games and are coming off a 118-104 loss against the OKC Thunder in Tuesday's NBA Cup quarterfinal matchup.
How to watch Dallas Mavericks vs. Golden State Warriors?
The Mavericks-Warriors matchup is scheduled to tipoff at 8:30 p.m. ET at the Chase Arena in San Francisco. The game will be nationally televised on NBA TV and will also be available locally on NBCSBA and KFAA. Fans can also stream it live on FuboTV and the NBA League Pass.