Dennis Schroder will forever live in NBA infamy for his decision in 2021 to pass on nearly $100 million from the Los Angeles Lakers because he felt he was worth more.
Rather than accept $84 million, Schroder opted to bet on himself and hit free agency. By the time it was all said and done, he was forced to take a $5.9 million offer from the Boston Celtics to share point-guard duties with Marcus Smart.
Schroder ended up playing half the season with Boston, the team’s worst stretch before eventually making the NBA Finals, and was ultimately traded to the Houston Rockets.
Seeing as the Rockets are rebuilding and have little use for a guy who was unable to play with LeBron James and had his own teammates hating him, it is widely assumed that he will suit up elsewhere in 2022-23.
At the moment, two legit suitors for his services exist.
As noted by Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report, the Miami Heat and Schroder are a strong fit on paper.
“Of the teams with at least the taxpayer mid-level exception left, Miami makes the most sense for Schroder,” he wrote.
“Kyle Lowry had a rocky first season with the Heat, as the 36-year-old missed 19 games and averaged his lowest scoring output since the 2012-13 season (13.4 points per game). While third-year guard Gabe Vincent did an admirable job filling in, Miami could use another veteran ball-handler as insurance for Lowry and to help keep him fresh for the playoffs.”
This isn’t the first time in recent weeks Schroder has been linked to Miami.
If not the Heat, the Los Angeles Lakers may also make some sense. Both sides have been humbled quite a bit since their last stint together.
Schroder recently expressed interest in a reunion on social media:
The Lakers are obviously holding out hope for Kyrie Irving, but as NBA insider Jake Fischer reported recently, it is increasingly looking like that won’t happen.
“The Lakers and Kyrie thing, like I’ve been saying all along, it’s not going to happen in a two-team deal and I’m still struggling to see a situation — I know the Russ-Utah stuff has picked up ever since I mentioned that last week,” Fischer said.
“Even in that hypothetical scenario, if Russ goes to Utah for two picks, are the Lakers going to get enough to satisfy them while also giving enough back to Brooklyn, I just don’t see it happening. I really don’t. I really do think Kyrie, at this point in time, like if you’re putting Vegas odds… the overwhelming favorite for his place to be playing next year is Brooklyn to me.”
The Lakers clearly have a Plan A trade and a Plan B trade in their sights before the start of next season. But if Plan B materializes, they will need a point guard.
And Schroder could fit the bill.
Last season he averaged 13.5 points, 4.6 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game. He can still be a serviceable role player for a good team, presuming his expectations for his place on a given roster are now in check.
Where will Schroder end up when it’s all said and done? Time will tell.
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