The Warriors are aiming for something that Steph Curry hasn’t had ever. Without Klay Thompson spacing the floor, defenses are throwing everything they’ve got at him, forcing him to rely on his role players for relief. But let’s be real—no one wants Curry to keep fighting through constant double teams and heavy pressure, right? For Golden State to truly maximize his game, Steve Kerr and Co. need to find him a reliable co-star.

Golden State is looking at the Windy City, but not in the offense department. According to The Athletic, adding Nikola Vucevic to the Warriors could work wonders, especially with Draymond Green covering him on defense. That would let Vucevic help create more space, freeing up Steph Curry and their wings, Andrew Wiggins and Jonathan Kuminga.

But Steve Kerr remains hopeful after the blowout win over Philly that his rotation just needs time. Kerr’s optimism centers around the addition of Dennis Schroder. “For me, it’s let’s see what we can do these next few weeks. Hopefully, we settle into this rotation, start shooting the ball better. I think with Dennis in the mix now, we have a chance to really be a great defensive team again like we were early in the year and if we can put it together, then we may not need to do anything,” he said, signaling that the Warriors might not need to pursue a trade if they find their rhythm.

Still, Steve Kerr stressed the importance of using the next month as a testing period: “But we definitely need to take this next month and really see what we have.”

What would happen if the rotation with Schroder does not work out? Could he be included in hopes of getting Vucevic? Maybe. The German doesn’t exactly match Vucevic’s salary; when combined with Gary Payton II’s $9.1 million expiring deal, while Buddy Hield and Kyle Anderson each pull in $8.7 million or Kevon Looney’s sitting at $8 million, they can get to Vucevic’s $20 million quite easily.

So, the main point here is- Dennis Schroder needs to prove his worth. Let’s see how he has been so far, for the Warriors.

How has Dennis Schroder been so far in Steve Kerr’s Warriors?

Since joining the Warriors on Dec. 15, Schroder has struggled to make an impact. Averaging just 9.9 PPG, 4.1 APG, and shooting 32.5% from the field, he’s far from the player the Warriors hoped for. They’ve gone 3-5 in his first eight games, and they need him to rediscover his form from his time with the Brooklyn Nets, where he averaged 18.4 PPG and shot 45.2%.

To get him back on track, Steve Kerr should focus on leveraging Dennis Schroder’s strengths, especially the pick-and-roll. With the German’s shooting woes, using his playmaking ability in the pick-and-roll could create easier scoring chances, particularly when Curry is on the bench. Pairing the newcomer with a lob threat like Trayce Jackson-Davis could also help. While Schroder has shown flashes, like his 7 points in the fourth quarter against the Suns on Dec. 28, asking him to play second fiddle to the Splash Bro isn’t working.

The Warriors’ 4-13 record over their last 17 games highlights a bigger issue: relying on an inconsistent Dennis Schroder and an aging Curry isn’t a winning combination. Since Schroder’s arrival, Steph has averaged just 19.0 PPG on 38.6% shooting.

To fix this, the GSW legend might need to return to his role as the primary ball handler, with Dennis taking on backup point guard duties and allowing Curry to focus on scoring alongside another offensive threat. Or get a true center like Vucevic with hopes that Curry, Wiggins, and Kuminga will lead the offensive charge.