After just one season with the Los Angeles Lakers, Dennis Schroder had no choice but to sign elsewhere in free agency.
Los Angeles initially offered Schroder a four-year extension in the $80 million range, but Schroder turned it down in hopes of a deal in the $100-120 million ballpark.
The way the Lakers operated throughout the offseason gradually indicated a new direction with the point guards was en route. Acquiring Russell Westbrook via trade, signing Kendrick Nunn and re-signing Talen Horton-Tucker put the nail in the coffin for Schroder’s return to L.A.
Schroder joined the Boston Celtics on a one-year deal just short of $6 million, but it appears more factors went into L.A.’s decision to let him walk in free agency, separate from the money and playoff-performance issues.
According to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, Lakers star Anthony Davis wasn’t fond of the looks he’d receive from Schroder:
“Per an NBA source familiar with some of the Lakers’ struggles through the 2020-21 campaign, Davis felt some frustration that he wasn’t getting the kind of looks in the post with Dennis Schroder running the point compared to those he received with Rondo a year earlier.”
A factor in that could be the limited games each player played together. Schroder arrived via trade from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the offseason was notoriously short, giving players limited time to prepare for the year.
Those issues were only exacerbated when Davis suffered a calf strain, sidelining him for a few months. Schroder was also in and out of the lineup because of health and safety protocols.
But Rajon Rondo’s arrival should change the situation for Davis since the two had solid chemistry in the 2019-20 season. Rondo has always been a well regarded passer. Westbrook’s ability to run the fast break should also aid Davis’ shot quality throughout the season.
