Dennis Schroder is having an impressive and efficient season with the Boston Celtics. The problem? Boston is the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference at 18-19, and the future of this team is anyone’s guess.
Playing on a one-year, prove-it deal, Schroder is poised to be a sought-after player via trade; Shams Charania of The Athletic reported last month that NBA teams expect Boston to be receptive to trade offers for the 28-year-old guard.
While he has been one of head coach Ime Udoka’s leading scorers this season, the Celtics have to move Schroder before the NBA trade deadline. Here’s three reasons for that urgency.
Boston Celtics aren’t winning with Dennis Schroder
Schroder has played like his typical-self this season. He’s scoring at a steady clip, facilitating in the halfcourt and serving as one of the Celtics’ primary scorers in a starting role from a minutes standpoint. What’s the impact of his play, though?
Surely, Schroder has improved the Celtics’ backcourt and he gives them a better chance of making the playoffs. On the other hand, their offense as a whole is still somewhat stagnant, and they’re winning games at the same monotonous clip as last season.
- Dennis Schroder stats (2021-22): 16.5 points, 4.7 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game while shooting 42.8/33.1/87.9
In the scenario Schroder is moved, the Celtics can fill his minutes by upping the role of young wings like Aaron Nesmith, Romeo Langford and Payton Pritchard. One could argue that they’re better off with those three getting more minutes, as it allows the Celtics to assess how they can impact the team in high-leverage situations.
The Celtics aren’t any better than they were last season, and that in and of itself is reason to trade Schroder, an impending free agent.
Boston Celtics can’t afford Dennis Schroder
As it concerns finances, there’s a minimal, if any chance that the Celtics re-sign Schroder after this season. With Schroder’s salary potentially doubling in free agency, they can’t afford to keep him.
Jayson Tatum is on a max deal. Jaylen Brown likely gets a near-max deal within the next two years. Big man Robert Williams III recently signed a $54 million extension. Al Horford has one more season remaining on a mammoth four-year deal.
The most relevant contract is Marcus Smart, who the Celtics gave a $77 million extension in the offseason and resides in the team’s backcourt rotation alongside Schroder. The two players handle the rock and are considerable elements of the offense when on the floor. Boston made it clear they value Smart over Schroder.
- Dennis Schroder contract per Spotrac: one-year, $5.9 million deal
There’s isn’t room for Schroder on the Celtics unless he takes a contract far below his market value. After flopping in free agency last offseason, it’s safe to expect him to pursue a significant pay raise and a clear-cut starting role, which he doesn’t have with the Celtics.
Furthermore, Boston could be on the cusp of making seismic trades given them being in a competitive holding pattern. The potential for the Celtics to execute such a move makes it unwise for them to commit long term to Schroder.
Boston Celtics can accumulate depth in Dennis Schroder trade
The Celtics aren’t a team devoid of depth. That said, they could use more quality in their rotation, and draft picks are an optimum tool for trying to pull off a blockbuster trade. Trading Schroder helps Boston in that regard.
The Toronto Raptors traded Norman Powell, a soon-to-be free agent, to the Portland Trail Blazers for Gary Trent Jr. and Rodney Hood last season. This trade is an idea of what the Celtics can get for Schroder. While Powell was likely a more desirable player a year ago than Schroder is this season, the difference between their play is narrow.
Boston should be able to get back a young, budding scorer on a rookie deal and a second-rounder or perhaps a first- and second-rounder accompanied by an expiring contract. Either one of those returns is worthwhile, as they either provide more long-term rotation depth or draft capital.
There are one of two ways the ship is going to go for the Celtics this upcoming offseason: 1) they get premium value for Brown in an attempt to retool around Tatum or 2) they combine their young players and draft picks to get a star next to Tatum and Brown. The latter is most likely. Could that mean a trade for someone like Karl-Anthony Towns, Domantas Sabonis or Brandon Ingram? Maybe a super trade package for Damian Lillard headlined by Brown?
The Celtics aren’t winning the East as is, and it would be imprudent for them to not cash in on players who aren’t part of their future like Schroder.