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Dennis Schroder is getting ready for the Paris Olympics. He led the German national team to the gold in the FIBA World Cup last summer, winning the Most Valuable Player award. So Germany has a good shot at medaling. If the Germans do win gold, silver or bronze, the 31-year-old will be the only Nets player to do so ... assuming he’s still around when the Parade of Nations begins on July 16 along the Seine.
In an interview a few days ago with Braunschweig Zeitung, his hometown paper, Schroder seemed to be lobbying for a return but implied the “business” of the NBA might intervene. The interview was first reported by The Brooklyn Way.
“Brooklyn is a really cool, great organization, quite family-oriented,” said Schroder. “I’d definitely like to stick around for the long haul — My agent and I feel like the Nets liked how I contributed. I’ve brought in more defense, teamwork and displayed leadership, but if someone as exceptional as Giannis Antetokounmpo or another superstar wants to join Brooklyn, the Nets could make deals to acquire that player ... and that’s why nothing is certain in the NBA.”
It was strong praise from a player who’s spent time with nine NBA teams over the course of an 11-year career and as he noted, Schroder played well for Brooklyn. In his 29 games with the Nets, 25 starts, Schroder averaged 14.6 points, 6.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds on 42/41/80 shooting splits, the 41.2% from three his best number ever. He has one year left on his current contract at $13 million. He is not eligible for an extension before next summer when he will be an unrestricted free agent.
At the time of the trade that brought him from Toronto to Brooklyn, many believed that Schroder was an ideal trade piece, a solid player at a reasonable, expiring deal.
Still, his comments raised a number of questions, the biggest being what the Nets will do at the point guard position. They have Ben Simmons, a former all-star PG making $40.3 million this season but unlike a year ago, the Nets aren’t planning to build around the oft-injured 27-year-old. Will they find a starter in free agency or the trade market and hope for the best with Simmons?
What could they get for Schroder? More picks to add to their stash of 10 firsts and 11 seconds? And finally, what’s he talking about with Antetokounmpo?? More than one league source has suggested to NetsDaily that the team’s ultimate target is the All-NBA big man but he’s under contract with the Milwaukee Bucks through 2027-28 when he’ll be 33.
How soon might Schroder learn if he’ll back? As we’ve noted, Sean Marks is often active in the 48 hours before the NBA Draft. That’s two week from Tuesday.
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