Dennis Schroder Is Rejoining The Lakers
Dennis Schroder is back in familiar territory. The German point-guard has signed with the Los Angeles Lakers on a one year deal. At face value, it creates a crammed backcourt with both Russell Westbrook and Patrick Beverly the other point guards on the roster. Check out Shams Charania with the details:
If nothing else, Schroder represents some form of familiarity for the Lakers. He previously played during the 2020-2021 season. Obviously, the Lakers’ attempt to defend their crown from the bubble went quite poorly with Schroder as the point guard. However, he now has a second chance to win himself over to the die-hard Lakers fans.
The End Of Russell Westbrook?
The less said about Westbrook’s time in LA the better. Last year, he was seen as the addition that would put them “over the top.” Now, any type of way out of the City of Angels would be seen as a win for both sides. The plain truth is that LeBron James needs shooters around him if they want any chance of success at this point in his career. Thomas Bryant is intriguing as a big-man with some perimeter skills. If Lonnie Walker can figure out his shooting struggles, he could be a very good value signing for the Lakers. However, Rob Pelinka might have found a dance partner for Westbrook. The Utah Jazz have reportedly been in talks with the Lakers over a Westbrook trade. If pieces like Bojan Bogdanovic or Jordan Clarkson are in play, that could be right up their alley.
Why Dennis?
Assuming a solution for Westbrook can be found, then a guard rotation of Schroder, Beverly, Clarkson, and Kendrick Nunn will be must-see TV. Not potentially because of their basketball skills, but the drama and comedy that could potentially be in store. With LeBron James’ future in the NBA uncertain, they better pray that they got this right. Schroder was OK at best in 2020-2021, posting averages of roughly 15 points and 6 assists per night. His shooting, however, was subpar as he shot 33.5% from three. He has shown glimpses of solid shooting in the past with a 38.5% clip in Oklahoma City during 2019-2020.
This move puts even more writing on the wall. Why in the world would Darvin Ham want to go with three undersized guards heading into the season? All three are streaky shooters at best and Beverly is arguably the only one who plays more than a lick of defense. Regardless, the world will have their eyes on the Los Angeles Lakers and for not the best reasons.
