Brad Stevens’ first offseason in his new role as Celtics President of Basketball Operations has been slow, methodical and ultimately underwhelming. Stevens’ biggest moves to this point have been a pair of retreads, acquiring Al Horford from Oklahoma City in a trade designed almost exclusively to shed Kemba Walker’s exorbitant salary while also bringing Enes Kanter back for a second stint in Boston. The C’s, three months removed from limping into the playoffs as a seven-seed (only for Brooklyn to oust them in five games), have largely sat out free agency, though according to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, Boston appears to be circling Dennis Schroder, who averaged a career-high 32.1 minutes per game as a Laker this past season.
Several months ago, Schroder declined an $84-million extension from the Lakers, believing his worth to be well over $100 million. Based on the minimal interest he’s received in free agency, the 6’3” point guard from Germany is probably regretting that right now. Schroder has long been a thorn in the Celtics’ side, averaging 14 points for his career against Boston (21 games, including eight starts). That could account for Stevens’ interest in Schroder, who the Hawks selected two picks after eventual MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo in the 2013 NBA Draft.
Schroder has spent much of his career as a sixth man, though in the absence of a better option than Marcus Smart, he’d likely be the Celtics’ starter at point guard, should he sign with them. The Celtics have also been linked to fan favorite Isaiah Thomas (the NBA’s third-leading scorer in 2017), though he’d probably be better served as a role player at this late juncture in his career. Despite his journeyman trajectory, bouncing from Atlanta to OKC to Los Angeles, Schroder’s scoring prowess (lifetime 14.3 points per game) makes him arguably the top free agent still available (Kawhi Leonard appears to be off the market).
Schroder may not excite Celtics fans, particularly given his past ties to the hated Lakers, but he’d provide a valuable scoring presence at a position of need and is both younger and more durable than his predecessor, the ever-infuriating Kemba Walker. Meanwhile, any chance of Schroder returning to Los Angeles went out the window when the Lakers pulled off a blockbuster trade for former MVP Russell Westbrook during last Thursday’s NBA Draft.
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