The Warriors have a new player, and perhaps a new scheme.
Dennis Schröder will make his debut for the Golden State Warriors tonight when the Dubs visit the Memphis Grizzlies at 5:00 p.m. PT. And it will represent a whole lot for Golden State: a new player, a new rotation pattern, and arguably a new identity.
And also, it seems, some new schemes and styles. After the Warriors acquired Shröder in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets (Golden State sent out De’Anthony Melton’s expiring contract, two-way player Reece Beekman, and three second-round picks) his new teammate Draymond Green had lots of praise. But while Green’s praise was effusive, it was also perhaps not what some would have expected.
In speaking with the media a few days ago, Green said something fairly surprising, though very accurate. Green stated that the Warriors play a different style of basketball than Schröder, and that they can’t expect the veteran point guard to adapt to their ways. Instead, Green suggested that the Warriors will “have to adjust to him,” implying that it will force the Dubs into some necessary evolution.
Draymond Green on the Dennis Schroder trade: “I don’t think he was necessarily brought here to fit. We play a certain style of basketball he does not really play. We need someone who can do the things he does. I’m looking forward to us adjusting to him.”
— Danny Emerman (@DannyEmerman) December 16, 2024
More Draymond: “We have to adjust to him because he’s bringing something this team needs. To just make him fall in line with what we do, we’d be wasting our time. We need somebody that can do what we necessarily don’t do, and I think that’s what he’ll be for us.”
— Danny Emerman (@DannyEmerman) December 16, 2024
It might not initially sound like a compliment to say that someone “wasn’t necessarily brought here to fit,” but Green is right on the money. Schröder brings a lot of valuable assets to the Dubs, from his attitude, to his toughness, to his isolation scoring. It won’t hurt the Warriors to make some adjustments, and with training camp far in the rearview mirror, it’s not realistic to expect Schröder to be the one changing his game.
We’ll seen see how it goes, but the potential here is thrilling.
