The trade deadline is two months away. But the Warriors have already begun moving the pieces. Continuing with their win-now approach, they have reportedly finalized a deal with the Nets to acquire Dennis Schroder. However, Mike Dunleavy’s obsession with keeping the young core intact might have led to a missed opportunity for the Bay Area franchise…

Well, the Warriors were initially pursuing the German star and Cam Johnson as their potential targets. Acquiring both stars would have meant trading away Jonathan Kuminga. However, the Bay Area front office was unwilling to relinquish their young star, which forced them to pivot and focus solely on Dennis Schroder “as a key piece to their second unit” and his $13 million salary.

Sure, adding the Brooklyn hoopster gives them a solid playmaker who is having the best year of his career, averaging 18.4 points and nearly seven assists. But clubbing Cam in the deal could have made the Warriors a much better team and immediate title contenders. Moreover, this is not the first time they have missed out on a superstar because of their trust in the young core.

Earlier this year, Mike Dunleavy and Co. were reportedly unwilling to let go of Brandin Podziemski and Jonathan Kuminga in a trade package that could have brought Lauri Markkanen to the Bay Area. Although there is nothing wrong with keeping the young core intact to secure the future, the Warriors will have a tough time finding another superstar for their win-now approach if they are not willing to give up young assets. Maybe, that’s where Dennis Schroder’s contract could come into play.

Warriors “active in the hunt” for bigger superstar after Dennis Schroder move

Although Dennis Schroder is a solid addition, the Warriors still need a big superstar alongside Stephen Curry to become legitimate title contenders. And Joe Lacob could leverage Schroder’s $13 million salary to facilitate that goal in the coming months.

As per veteran insider Shams Charania, “This doesn’t keep the Warriors outside the big game hunting. I’m told they remain active in the hunt for a star player and they can aggregate Schroder’s contract in a bigger move later this season.”

Obviously, Schroder’s market value is higher than it has ever been. His assist numbers are likely to increase while playing alongside elite shooters like Steph and Buddy. That would make him a major trade asset for the Warriors if they decide to make a move in the future.

Well, the trade has not been made official yet because the deal cannot be completed until Sunday. That’s because De’Anthony Melton, who is part of the Warriors’ package, is not trade-eligible until then. Although Melton showed great potential in his limited appearances for the team, he unfortunately got ruled out for the season after tearing his ACL.

Apart from him, the Warriors are reportedly also giving up three second-round picks and guard Reece Beekman to acquire Dennis Schroder. That’s a reasonable price for an All-Star caliber player! Moreover, there have also been murmurs about the Warriors pursuing LeBron James, and Schroder’s salary could help with that move.

Meanwhile, the team is targeting Thursday’s game in Memphis for Schroder’s debut while the front office continues to figure out ways to add another superstar to boost their winning chances.