By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Despite the eventful departure of Dennis Schroder last summer, he might be on his way back to the Los Angeles Lakers as a backup point guard, according to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha.
Schroder, 28, ended up signing a one-year $5.9 million contract with the Boston Celtics in August, a few months after turning down a four-year $84 million contract extension with the Lakers. Meanwhile, the team based in California traded for Russell Westbrook moving into a new direction after one season with Schroder as the floor general.
His run with the Celtics did not last through the one-year contract. He was instead dealt to the Houston Rockets along with Enes Kanter Freedom and Bruno Fernando for German center Daniel Theis on Thursday’s NBA Trade Deadline. Averaging 14.4 points, 4.2 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 0.8 steals per contest over 49 appearances, including 25 starts, made out his brief stint in Boston.
With trades out of the picture moving past the deadline, teams looking to boost their squads can only rely on free agents, namely players being bought out. Players signed until the March 1 deadline will be eligible to play in the 2022 Playoffs.
The Lakers reportedly considered trading for Schroder but ultimately were among the sides staying put at the Trade Deadline. They are likely to look for reinforcements in the buyout market, including a potential reunion with the German international if he is released by the Rockets. Packing a full roster, they would need to cut a player themselves to add a free agent in the next weeks.
The Rockets rank last in the Western Conference standings at 15-40, seven games away from the Play-In zone. It would make sense to pursue buyouts at this stage of the season.
At 26-30, the Lakers sit ninth in the Western Conference, four games away from being eliminated and 4.5 games behind a direct spot to the Playoffs.
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