Dennis Schroder will be traded to Golden State, but he's the first of the Nets' three veteran dominoes to fall, and perhaps the most important player on the team's path to acquiring a top draft pick.
The Nets are sending a veteran point guard and a second-round pick to the Warriors for De'Anthony Melton and three second-rounders.
The news was first reported by ESPN and confirmed by the Post, which reported Golden State's interest about a week ago.
Any move would be comforting to Nets fans who are desperate for the team to make some kind of move.
Players signed in the offseason will be eligible to be traded on Sunday, suddenly adding 80 names that can be included in the exchange.
It's no coincidence that teams around the league are inquiring about Schroder, as well as Cam Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith.
Brooklyn fans worried that their team was winning too much, and those worried about lower lottery odds, will be overjoyed at the prospect. Because, frankly, there's no question that Schroder was the biggest driving force behind the team's incredible 10-15 start.
Schroder is averaging 18.4 points, 6.6 assists and 1.1 steals and has been a pain for 94-foot defenses.
Trading him could have a big impact.
Without him, Ben Simmons would be the only proven point guard, and his health is a constant concern after he essentially missed the past three seasons with back pain.
Behind Simmons are backup shooting guards Keon Johnson and Shake Milton.
The Nets are just three games behind bottom-five Charlotte and have a 42.1 percent chance of landing a top-four pick in the lottery, so moving Schroder would be the easiest path.
“I’ve been in the league for 12 years and people have been talking about my name in trade talks for 12 years. [only] Because it was traded twice, [gossip] It’s going to happen,” Schroeder recently told the Post. “They’re using it as an event where they can promote who’s on the block, they don’t really care.
“But I agree with this system now because they pay my check. And I do my job every day, and I'm always professional about it and I'm always going to make the most of it. I'm going to improve by 1 percent every day. And whatever happens, it happens. I understand it's business, but don't worry about it.”
In this business, Mr. Schroeder played himself, fresh out of Brooklyn.
The veteran point guard is on a team-friendly $13 million expiration contract.
The Warriors reached out to the Nets and offered the injured Melton a $12.8 million contract.
The Nets could waive Melton to free up a roster spot for a healthy player, but Melton would be subject to the salary cap.
