The Los Angeles Lakers were eager to win back-to-back NBA championships this season, making huge moves in the summer to surroundLeBron James and Anthony Davis with even more weapons.
They made a run at the reigning Sixth Man of the Year in Montrezl Harrell and also traded for the guy who came in second: Dennis Schroder. Ironically, Schroder had said that he didnāt want to play for the Lakers just a couple of weeks before that move.
Fast-forward to today and it seems like he hasnāt changed his mind. Apparently, the former Atlanta Hawks and Oklahoma City Thunder player isnāt satisfied with his diminished role and feels like heās a top-tier point guard and should be paid and treated as such.
Bleacher Report: Dennis Schroder Wants To Leave The Lakers
(Transcript via Fadeaway World)
āBack in March, ESPNās Brian Windhorst reported Schroder had declined a four-year, $84 million extension offer from the Los Angeles Lakers earlier this season (h/t Dan Feldman of Pro Basketball Talk). The two sidesā inability to strike a deal played a factor in the Lakersā pursuit of Lowry at the trade deadline, sources said.
Multiple league executives who have overlapped with Schroder told B/R they believe the ball-handler is looking to be paid like a top-tier point guard, and his role in Los Angeles may not satisfy his interest in being the leading playmaker for a marquee franchise.
āHe sees himself as a big-market player, and obviously he wants to start,ā said the veteran personnel man.
New York could present that opportunity for Schroder, and the Knicks are indeed considering a run at him in free agency, sources said. They appear likely to re-sign Derrick Rose as head coach Tom Thibodeauās reliable reserve floor general, but perhaps Schroder can be the answer for theirā hole in their opening lineup on a deal worth north of $90 million.ā
While itās true that Schroder brings a lot of energy and is a solid playmaker and streaky scorer, his career averages of 14.3 points and 4.7 rebounds on 43% shooting donāt exactly help his case as an elite guard.
Heās too good to come off the bench, yet not that good to be a primary playmaker or marquee players as he feel he is, so heās likely to walk away in free agency and hope another team is willing to overpay for his services.
