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Ohm Youngmisuk, ESPN Staff Writer
SAN FRANCISCO — It did not take Dennis Schroder long to get over the initial shock of being traded from the Brooklyn Nets to the Golden State Warriors.
Even though Schroder and his family had just recently settled into a new house, the point guard began to think about playing alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green and for Steve Kerr.
“Just to be able to be around them now, especially Steph,” Schroder said Tuesday after scrimmaging with his new teammates. “He’s one of, if not the best point guard ever. Best shooter of course. Just excited to see how he works and to be a part of it.
“I’ve played with a lot of future Hall of Famers the last couple of years. Him and Draymond will make it kind of complete now.”
The Warriors cannot wait to incorporate the 12-year veteran into the mix. Since starting 12-3, they’ve dropped eight of their past 10 games.
Kerr said Schroder could be in the starting lineup Thursday, when the Warriors play at Memphis. The Warriors coach likes the idea of playing the two point guards together so that Schroder can help set up Curry for some easier scoring opportunities.
And Kerr said Schroder will be the point guard on the floor to help organize the second unit in the “non-Steph” minutes.
“We need to take some of the burden off Steph,” Kerr said. “He’s had to take on, I think, an abnormal load this year of responsibility offensively.
“What we’ve missed is another pick-and-roll player so that Steph doesn’t have to run so much pick-and-roll all game and wear himself down.”
Kerr said the Warriors can use Schroder in pick-and-roll situations similar to what they did with Chris Paul last season.
Schroder comes in averaging 18.4 points, 6.6 assists and 38.7% shooting from behind the arc. The Warriors need another scorer to help Curry, Andrew Wiggins and Jonathan Kuminga.
Schroder’s defense will be a welcomed addition, as well. The Warriors are hoping Schroder can help fill the void left by De’Anthony Melton’s season-ending knee injury. The two-way guard was a starter when healthy and was seen as a valuable fit alongside Curry. Melton was traded to Brooklyn along with Reece Beekman and three second-round picks for Schroder and a second-round pick.
“Really, really excited to play with Draymond,” Schroder said. “We got a pretty good relationship. Really looking forward to playing with another Hall of Famer on the court who was always hell when you were on the other side of it, who was talking smack, trash, just being competitive and come out of there with a win. To combine [our defense and competitiveness] now is pretty unique and special.”
Kerr said Schroder was on the opposite team against Curry’s squad in the scrimmage to get the point guard accustomed to the second unit. But Schroder is looking forward to playing alongside Curry as well.
“Every time I’ve seen Golden State play, you get excited because just how he plays,” Schroder said. “He plays it like a video game … he’s one of the superstars who I got a lot of respect for because he doesn’t care if he scores 10, 20, 30 or 40.
“I’m really excited. I can’t say it enough.”