Dennis Schroder was seen as a major acquisition in the 2020 offseason, and a move that many thought would help the Lakers secure their second-straight title.
Instead, Schroder’s tenure in L.A. was rocky from the start, leading to his name being dangled in trade discussion just months after he signed with the Purple and Gold.
(via ESPN)
“But the relationship started off awkwardly with Schroder stating publicly he expected to start even though he’d had success off the bench with the Oklahoma City Thunder and finished as runner-up in Sixth Man of the Year voting last year. And it got worse with each long-term contract extension he turned down.
The Lakers acceded to his request to start, and continued negotiating with his representatives on a rich contract extension. But his play on the court frustrated some in the organization, according to sources. By the trade deadline, L.A. was including him in trade discussions for Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry.”
It has been widely reported that Schroder was seeking a contract worth around $100 million, no doubt his asking price during negotiations with the Lakers.
But as time went on, and his play became inconsistent, it only drove a bigger wedge between him and the organization.
After the 2021 playoffs, in which he was a virtual no-show, his future with the team is highly questionable, and fans are of the belief that he shouldn’t return next season.
Regardless, his first year with the Lakers was anything but smooth sailing and it will be interesting to see where he goes next.
