According to the Los Angeles Lakers, Dennis Schroder is now officially a member of the franchise.
On Sunday, news broke that the Oklahoma City Thunder agreed to trade Schroder to the Lakers in exchange for Danny Green and the rights to the 28th pick in Wednesday night’s draft.
Because of an NBA rule prohibiting a team from trading its first-round pick in consecutive years, the Lakers had to exercise the pick, which it did on behalf of the Thunder. Following the draft, the Lakers then transferred the pick to Oklahoma City, along with Danny Green.
As expected, immediately following the conclusion of Wednesday night’s draft, the Lakers announced the trade and even tweeted out a Photoshopped image of Schroder in a Lakers jersey.
Schroder and Chris Paul each chimed in on social media with excitement over the development.
OFFICIAL: Welcome to Los Angeles, Dennis Schröder pic.twitter.com/U7zsvgL2G3
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) November 19, 2020
Interestingly, the Thunder had yet to announce the trade, though that could be due to the fact it had agreed to send Danny Green to the Philadelphia 76ers and the 28th pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a separate trade. In a nutshell, Sam Presti was very busy on draft night.
With the Lakers announcing the acquisition of Schroder, it brings to a close the two-year stint in Oklahoma City for the German guard, who was mostly impressive. If not for his pending free agency — Schroder will earn $15 million in the 2020-21 season and is in line for a raise — he may have stuck with the team.
For what it’s worth, Schroder revealed to a German publication he was approached with the opportunity to be traded to the Lakers in February, but turned it down because he preferred to attempt to make a run with the Thunder.
Now, though, he’s officially heading to Tinseltown.
