Dennis Schroder made the worst decision in the history of free agency.
Let me tell you a story about Schroder. He was traded to the Lakers for their sub-par season after they won the 2020 NBA title in the COVID bubble. And he played well on a team where LeBron James is the de facto point guard when the game is on the line.
Schroder was in the rotation, averaging better than 15 points, shooting 44 percent from the field and 33.5 from 3-point distance in his single season with LA. With the OKC Thunder the prior season, he averaged 19 points and shot 47 percent from the floor and 38.5 on 3-pointers in 2019-20.
He took heat for the Lakers’ first-round playoff loss to Phoenix and wasn’t nearly good enough for Magic Johnson, who said in June, “I don’t think he’s a Laker … he doesn’t bring the winning mentality and attitude that we need.”
Los Angeles Lakers guard Dennis Schroeder (17) defends against Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, April 10, 2021, in New York (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin).
Schroder was a free agent and was still offered $80 million for four years to stay with the Lakers. Thinking he was worth more, he turned it down. Do some athletes have an inflated opinion of their self-worth or is that what the market pays someone like Schroder? Probably both. Is this a sad, stupid story? Maybe all three.
The Lakers moved on and traded for Russell Westbrook, the former UCLA star who returned to his home town as their new point guard. Schroder soon learned the market for pro point guards had dried up. He signed for one year with the Celtics for $5.9 million.
True story. Schroder has already posted social media messages to Celtic fans, vowing on Instagram to bring it every night with their team. “This is one of the best franchises in NBA history and it will be an honor to put on the green and white,” Schroder wrote. “I’m going out there every night and leaving it all on the floor for the city!!”
This knucklehead was already playing for one of the best franchises in NBA history, the Lakers dumb-dumb who offered you $80 million to stick around for another four years. Now you have 6 million for one year on the East Coast where you basically have to start over.
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