By Stefan Djordjevic / sdjordjevic@eurohoops.net
Dennis Schroder is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer and his contract has been one of the Los Angeles Lakers management’s focuses this year.
The Lakers re-signed Anthony Davis and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and extended LeBron James and Kyle Kuzma to multi-year deals, so that doesn’t leave them with much cap space going forward for at least the next two offseasons.
They are unlikely to find a free agent replacement for Schroder and trade might be tricky as well considering their current assets.
However, the good news for the sides has been that the German guard has been willing to stay a Laker, despite turning down the previous extension package, as long as he gets a “fair” offer.
In mid-February, the LA team became eligible to propose Schroder a larger extension – a deal starting at $18.6 million and worth approximately $83 million over four years, which outweighs the previous one by quite a bit.
Schroder has also never suggested anything other than the willingness to return and he even, according to LA Times, bought a house in Los Angeles right after becoming eligible for the larger contract extension.
“First off, yes, because of my teammates,” Schroder said a month ago when asked if he envisioned being with the Lakers for the foreseeable future. “I said it before, even first day, it felt like we’d been together for a month or two. Chemistry is amazing. That’s the reason why I think I want to be here long-term. But like I said before, it’s got to be fair on both ends. If it’s fair, then I don’t have any problem. It’s going to be great to be here long term, for sure.”
The 28-year-old floor general has been averaging 14.8 points, 4.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and one steal so far this season in 34 games.