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 didn’t want to play for the Lakers just a couple of weeks before that move.
Fast-forward to today and it seems like he hasn’t changed his mind. Apparently, the former Atlanta Hawks and Oklahoma City Thunder player isn’t satisfied with his diminished role and feels like he’s 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)
“Back in March, ESPN’s 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 sides’ inability to strike a deal played a factor in the Lakers’ 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.
“He sees himself as a big-market player, and obviously he wants to start,” 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 Thibodeau’s reliable reserve floor general, but perhaps Schroder can be the answer for their’ hole in their opening lineup on a deal worth north of $90 million.”
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While it’s 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 don’t exactly help his case as an elite guard.
He’s 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 he’s likely to walk away in free agency and hope another team is willing to overpay for his services.
