Dennis Schroder Trade Rumors: Rivals Expect Celtics to Be Open to Talks on Veteran
Dennis Schroder might not be long for the Boston Celtics.
According to Shams Charania of The Stadium and Athletic, "Rival teams expect the Celtics to be open to talks around guard Schroder, who inked a one-year deal with Boston in the offseason but has had a strong season that likely prices him out of a potential re-signing."
Schroder, 28, is playing on a one-year, $5.8 million deal with the Celtics after reportedly turning down a four-year, $80 million extension with the Los Angeles Lakers last season.
And he's playing well, averaging 17.5 points and 4.9 assists per game while shooting 44.5 percent from the field and 34.2 percent from three.
But if Schroder receives major offers after the 2021-22 season, the Celtics likely won't be able to afford him. Here are some of the contracts they already have on the books for next year, per Spotrac:
- Jayson Tatum: $30.3 millon
- Jaylen Brown: $28.7 million
- Al Horford: $26.5 million (only $14.5 million guaranteed)
- Marcus Smart: $16.6 million
- Josh Richardson: $12.1 million
- Robert Williams III: $10.7 million
Those contracts, totaled with the others they are scheduled to have on the books, puts them at an active roster cap of $149.2 million, which would leave them with a hefty salary tax.
Unless they were able to get themselves off of some of those contracts, there's no way they'd be able to afford Schroder at the $15-20 million per year contract he'll likely be chasing.
So dealing Schroder now would make sense from a team-building standpoint. From a competitive standpoint this season, it would obviously make less sense.
The question is whether the Celtics see themselves as a contender or not. A 13-14 start to the season would suggest they are still far off from being among the NBA's elite. While a playoff berth is absolutely within reach and should be expected of the talent Boston has amassed, it's pretty clear the Celtics aren't in the same league as teams like the Brooklyn Nets or Milwaukee Bucks.
