Veteran guard Dennis Schroder is one of many players up for free agency this summer. After making $13.0 million this past season, he was hoping to sign a bigger deal to re-join the Detroit Pistons, but he announced on social media today that the organization has other plans.
“I want to stay in Detroit for sure, but Detroit ain’t waiting for me, I can tell you that much,” Schröder said in a Saturday live stream.
Schroder signed a two-year, $25 million contract with the Raptors in 2023, but he didn’t stay long before his next stop. He was in Brooklyn by February and then traded to the Warriors, where he played for 24 games before finally landing with the Pistons in February of 2025.
Schroder, 31, is a natural scorer who provides an instant spark for any offense he’s on. Over the years, he’s been primarily used off the bench, but he’s been in starting roles throughout his career. The German point guard is most known by some for declining an alleged four-year deal worth $84 million in free agency, but he’ll have a chance to try again this summer to negotiate a contract he feels is fair.
After helping the Pistons secure the sixth-best record in the East this past season (44-38), Dennis thought he was headed back to Detroit to finish what he started, but it seems they’d rather move in a different direction. With young players like Cade Cunningham, Ausar Thompson, and Jaden Ivey set to continue their development, it’s possible the Pistons didn’t see room for Schroder in their young rotation. Plus, the Pistons have other plans this summer, potentially even including a blockbuster trade for Julius Randle.
As for what’s next for Schroder, it remains to be seen which NBA teams will show interest. As a former Laker, some fans have suggested he could return to LA for either the veteran’s minimum or the taxpayer midlevel exception, worth $5.7 million. He’s not the big man the Lakers need, but his scoring could make him a great acquisition for the right price.
Another team he could help is the Minnesota Timberwolves. Mike Conley is getting older now, and they’ll need someone to either replace him or take on some of his workload at point guard. Schroder is not the defender or leader Conley was in his prime, but he can still make a nasty pairing with Anthony Edwards as two explosive guards who can score in bunches.
This summer, in what is expected to be an active market, it’s impossible to tell where Schroder will end up, but he’ll be looking for a place where he can play a meaningful role on a competitive team. Whether that’s with the Lakers or someplace else, Schroder will embrace whatever comes next, knowing that his time with the Pistons is likely over.
