Let’s start with the outlandish, yet obvious questions: Do the Golden State Warriors need Dennis Schröder? Is there a scenario where it’s a win-win for both parties?
The current Warriors roster, fresh with the additions of draftees Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody along with veterans Otto Porter Jr. and Nemanja Bjelica is without a doubt constructed around Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green.
Free agent Schröder is in dire straits at the moment. He’s been bashed for turning down an $84 million extension with the Los Angeles Lakers. GM Rob Pelinka signing Russell Westbrook all but signaled his ouster from the side. He has three options ahead – Sign with a side that’s willing to take him on, maybe a sign-and-trade, or that improbable scenario of going back to the Lakers.
The Golden State Warriors should be considering what Dennis Schröder brings to the table if they want to sign him this summer.
If the Lakers had not made the playoffs, Schröder would have passed for a player who held his own in patches and had his moments of brilliance. It wasn’t the best season he had, but it wasn’t that bad either. The regular season saw him average 15.4 PPG on 43.7% shooting along with 5.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds.
It didn’t help his case when he made his way back into the playoffs after missing seven games due to the league’s health and safety protocols. The opportunity to prove he was worth his weight in gold came in the form of the seven-game skirmish against the Phoenix Suns.
He was a pale shadow of himself scoring eight points in Game 4 against the Suns, and none in the following game. He was supposed to be the dynamo for the Lakers in the absence of James and Anthony Davis, except he wasn’t.
With what will be his solo stint with the LeBron James & Co, the German averaged 19.6 points. He comes with his flaws. He’s not the one who can drain 3s at ease and has been guilty of turnovers in abundance.
There’s also that question of whether he’s the same player he once was during his time at the Oklahoma City Thunder. In short, it’s about his inconsistency. But…
The Warriors need someone who can create plays, initiate the offense, get acclimatized to Steve Kerr’s style of play, and at the same time, be the leader the team needs when Curry and Thompson are off the floor.
Schröder might fit the side as an offense initiator while the duo catches their breath. With Thompson all but sure to be gradually eased into the s, the former Thunder man is one of the few players who meets the criteria when compared to the other players in the still-available free agents’ list.
Signing Dennis Schröder is a risk that Bob Myers must be willing to take. The Warriors have lost two seasons with their stars coming in-and-out of the side due to injuries, perhaps this is a gamble at best.
The former OKC and (probably) Lakers man has had his share of issues with LA, but if the Warriors are ready to look past Schröder’s ‘I’m-the-man’ persona, then maybe there’s a boost they can get. It will be an Image rebuilding time for the point guard and a chance for the Warriors to bolster their roster with promising talent.