Starting Lakers point guard Dennis Schröder has played particularly well as of late, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPN. Schröder has been the single most important element of the team’s offense without All-Stars LeBron James or, until recently, Anthony Davis, per Jovan Buha of The Athletic. As the team’s lead ball-handler without James, Schröder has taken on more of the scoring and passing burden.
“He had to,” Davis said. “But he’s been playing huge for us, since I’ve been back and when I was out, figuring it out for us while still keeping us afloat and in the mix.”
Schröder has averaged 17.4 PPG and 7.8 APG across the 20 games since James’s injury, making a push for a lucrative new contract ahead of his upcoming unrestricted free agency. The 27-year-old has reportedly turned down an extension offer from the Lakers in the range of $80MM+ over four years.
There’s more out of Los Angeles:
- Lakers All-Star forward LeBron James posted what must be a tantalizing missive to L.A. fans recently, per Kyle Goon of the Orange County Register. A black-and-white video featuring James enacting a layup drill in Dallas was accompanied by a promising quote: “Coming soon to a city near you.” James has been sidelined with a high-ankle sprain since March 20, and the Lakers officially remain cagier than James himself has been, sticking with the “indefinite” line in addressing his availability.
- Clippers center Ivica Zubac has delivered in his new role as the club’s starter with Serge Ibaka injured, writes Mirjam Swanson of the Orange County Register. A back injury has kept Ibaka on the shelf since March 14. Zubac’s play has been one reason why L.A. boasts a league-best 18-4 record since Ibaka’s last game as starter — there’s a chance Ibaka may have lost his starting slot for good.
- Veteran Clippers center DeMarcus Cousins is comfortable with his firmly-established position in the pecking order for his new team (the fourth and final California club to have signed him), tweets Andrew Greif of the Los Angeles Times. Cousins is the third center on the team, behind Zubac and Ibaka. The well-traveled former four-time All-Star praised the club’s “one of a kind” culture and organization.
Well, that city will be L.A
7 of next 8 in LA after Wizards game tomorrow
End with road B2B Indy/Pelicans that may be meaningless
Dennis peaking through all the transitions is certainly admirable, 1 more major transition for him to leap- KCP has been fire as well for a month, those 2 stay hot watch out West – Kuz just needs to re-channel his adolescence energy into O boards, spotting up, and moving those damn feet more on defense, Caruso just needs Papa Bron back to reclaim his mojo . Hat tip to Por/Dallas
I really doubt any of the Lakers 11 remaining games will be meaningless.
They’re just two games ahead of Dallas for the 6th seed, and those Mavs just destroyed the Warriors on national TV. LA is also just three games ahead of Portland for the 7th seed. If they fall that far they will be delegated to the play-in tournament and may not even get to the actual playoffs next month.
But surely the 36% of voters here who think the Lakers will win the West have absolutely nothing to worry about. Their team will be just fine. Right?
So Schroeder is the next LeBron?
Dennis Schroeder is not the next lebron he’s starting cause lebron is injured and Dennis is putting up 20 a night cause the lakers are facing bad teams such as the magic for example
Dennis will be starting if Lebron was hurt or not . What you trying to say
How can you be so sure, julin?
Well Lil D cupcake if Dennis Caruso kcp and kuz were so good the lakers would not be the 5 th seed the would be the 1st 2nd or 3 Rd seed
Dennis is in a much better position to turn down an $80M contract than Oladipo was with the Pacers last year. With just over $100M tied up in their top 4 players the Lakers won’t have cap space to sign any free agents. So all they can do is pay Schroder what he wants, or do a sign-and-trade and see what they can get for him. And they don’t have bird rights on Drummond.
Alex caruso ain’t no mini lebron if he was he would have been getting offers in trade deadline or even the 2020 free agency where he was a free agent but resigned a 1 year deal after the lakers won the championship the lakers were the only team that wanted him in free agency
Source on Caruso’s market?
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Agree on Shroder’s improvement, but it’s a big stylistic change from Lebron. I like him as an LJ replacement and change-of-pace, like Rondo was.
Things worked out perfectly for Schroeder. You have to think with his play of late he has a lot of leverage ahead of contract negotiations.
…but if you look at the whole season…
…but if you look at available free agents…
Aside from the head coach, this team always has and will continue to be judged on its success in the postseason. How often do guys get paid for their regular season success and never even sniff the playoffs? Schroder will have his chance to earn his payday in the next few months otherwise the Lakers will let him walk.
I always thought Ibaka lacked team commitment and was surprised when he was made starter and the Clips did well. (Maybe that was an inducement to get him to sign.)
Now they do even better with Ibaka.
I had picked Denver for the title. Even though they’re hot now, Murray’s injury could leave them short. Clippers should ne graded on Ibaka’s record, now 18-4. They should be #1 out of a good top 4.
Dennis isn’t worth more than the Lakers offered. There is a Laker discount that every non franchise type player pays to live in eternal sunshine with the hottest women in the world for the best franchise in League history. If Schroeder really balks and wants a contract that limits our ability to build a team he can be replaced. I understand the Lakers have his Bird rights and even without his money we are over the cap. But if we ship KCP and take Schroeder money we can then get a 3rd franchise type player. He is a good player, but not worth 30 million of cap space Bird rights or not. We are the Lakers, when dealing with a non superstar we always have options when it comes to free agency, this isnt Okc or Cleveland.
You are confused. He will be sign with Birds Rights. We have no capspace. Lebron + AD + KCP + Kuz+ the last 5mil of the LDeng strech = 107mil. We can sign Caruso, THT, Dennis with bird rights ABOVE the cap. We can also sign MMorris with early bird rights. Drummond and Trezz will be gone.
I get we are over but 30 million a year to Schroeder is still accounted for against our number, and still limits our flexibility to possibly get rid of guys and clear cap space to steal someone else’s big superstar while LeBron still has an open championship window. Id like to obtain him but at 20-25 million, not at at 30-35 million
Schroeder imo is not worth more than 25 mill. And Lakers can’t really afford to let him walk. But what if Lowry signs for two yrs 40-50 mill. Who would Lakers want. AD can find a running mate later. This fits Brons timeline better.