Dennis Schroder Available, Celtics Looking For Salary Relief
The key talk of this past offseason was what would happen with Dennis Schroder and his potential contract situation. After turning down a four-year extension worth $84M with the Lakers to chase a contract worth upwards of $100M in the offseason, the market for Dennis Schroder was very low, ultimately forcing him to sign a one-year, $5.9M deal with the Boston Celtics just to remain in the league.
In Boston, Dennis Schroder has made the most of his opportunities this season and has once again proven to be a force off-the-bench, much like he was during the 2019-20 season with the Oklahoma City Thunder as Chris Paul’s backup.
Through 44 games this season, Schroder has averaged 14.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists and has shot 43.7% from the floor, making him one of the better backup guards in the entire league. Dennis Schroder’s playmaking abilities are what make him valuable and he is expected to be dealt ahead of the trade deadline this season.
The Celtics have liked the production they have received from Dennis Schroder this season, but he is not looked at as a long-term piece in their backcourt and Boston’s intentions at the beginning of the year when they first signed Schroder were to flip him for assets at the trade deadline.
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Now almost one week until the deadline, NBA insider Marc Stein stated recently that the Celtics are expected to deal Dennis Schroder and they are looking to shed his $5.9M salary without taking salary back in attempts to move under the luxury tax line on the season.
Recently, Boston traded Juancho Hernangomez to the Spurs in a three-team deal that resulted in them bringing in P.J. Dozier and Bol Bol from the Nuggets, two players who are currently sidelined with injuries.
This was not a big move for the Celtics to make, but it was one that has brought them closer to going below the tax line on the season. It appears that Boston would like to continue cutting salaries from their roster, which would make sense for them to move Dennis Schroder for a future draft pick or two as possibly an extension of a multi-team deal at the deadline.
As for other moves the Celtics are looking to make, sources have told NBA Analysis Network that the team is entertaining the idea of adding another wing scorer next to Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
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Given that they have a $17.1M trade exception that can be utilized, Marcus Morris (Clippers), Terrence Ross (Magic) and Robert Covington (Trail Blazers) are all names worth keeping an eye on in regards to the Celtics.
Cheaper options on smaller contracts include Nuggets’ forward Jeff Green, who the Celtics have heavy interest in, and Pacers’ wing Justin Holiday, who is starting to gain a decent amount of interest leading up to the deadline.
Currently 26-25 and jockeying for position in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, the Celtics need to make some roster changes ahead of the trade deadline because Tatum and Brown cannot carry this team on their own this season, especially given how strong teams like the Nets, Bucks, Heat and Bulls have looked at full-strength this season at the top of the conference standings. Dennis Schroder is expected to be dealt ahead of the trade deadline, but the Celtics will also be looking to make other moves as well.
