Dennis Schröder will enter NBA Free Agency this offseason after a wildly hectic season with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Being traded to LA in the offseason after finishing second in the Sixth Man of the Year running during the 2019-20 season, Schröder found himself in a full-time starting role for the Lakers. Serving as their point guard, he averaged 15.4 points on .437/.335/.848 shooting splits, 3.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists across 61 games.
Although many believed he somewhat underperformed, the guard has made no bones about how he will seek a hefty payday once free agency officially kicks off. Armin Andres, the VP of the German Basketball Federation, recently revealed some interesting comments on the Abteilung Basketball podcast, stating that Schröder will be seeking a deal worth from $100-$120 million on his next deal, per TalkBasket.
That would certainly be a significant price to pay for the 27-year-old’s services, which will likely cause several teams to balk from the jump. Still, interest surrounding Schröder will certainly be prevalent from some contending teams, and here are five potential suitors that could make a run at him in 2021 NBA Free Agency.
The Los Angeles Lakers could target Dennis Schröder in 2021 NBA Free Agency
According to ESPN insider Brian Windhorst, the Lakers offered Schröder a contract extension during the season that would have paid him $84 million over several years. He obviously turned that down that offer, likely seeking more money, which seems feasible after these latest reports suggest that he is hunting a deal worth north of $100 million.
Following a rather lackluster stretch in the playoffs, Schröder certainly did not do himself any favors trying to heighten his potential value in free agency. Scoring zero points in Game 4 of the first round and just eight points in Game 5, the guard was met with criticism, most notably by Lakers legend and Hall of Famer Magic Johnson. Johnson, who won five titles with Los Angeles, was not shy about revealing his feelings toward the guard. Via AM 570 LA Sports:
"“I don’t think he’s a Laker. That’s just my opinion. I don’t know if they’re gonna sign him back or not. I don’t think he brings the winning mentality and attitude that we need. He had a chance to show that in this series. And, to me, he failed in this series.”"
While harsh, many around the basketball world seemingly share that same sentiment after the guard failed to step up. With LeBron James and Anthony Davis battling through injury, they were given little reinforcement from their starting point guard. Still, despite Johnson’s claims and the displeasure many others took with his subpar playoff performance, that does not guarantee the Lakers will just immediately cut ties.
With James and Davis missing a significant portion of the season due to injury, finding the time to gel with Schröder was a tall task. These injuries practically derailed LA’s season entirely, so regrouping and running it back next season with the same key components when healthy seems like it could be a realistic idea. The biggest factor involved in any potential extension will be the dollar amount, but do not be surprised if Schröder winds up sticking around in Los Angeles.