The Sacramento Kings have had a unique offseason met with league-wide criticism. They have shown no signs of wanting to compete in the stacked Western Conference but have taken no steps toward a rebuild.
To begin the summer, General Manager Scott Perry selected two of the oldest rookies in the class, Colorado State's Nique Clifford and Washington State's Maxime Raynaud. Just a few days later, they completed the long-rumored pickup of veteran guard Dennis Schroder.
The sign-and-trade with the Detroit Pistons for Schroder involved his reported 3-year, $45 million contract, earning him $15 million annually over the next few seasons. This deal is not bad value for a guy who was crucial to Detroit's mini playoff run the year prior.
An interesting wrinkle is that the Kings are still determined to bring in 9-time NBA All-Star Russell Westbrook. Several outlets have reported that it is either Sacramento or retirement for the former MVP, alluding to the fact that a deal will get done.
This would put the Kings in an odd situation, as their guard room would be too crowded. A scenario where Russell Westbrook, Dennis Schroder, Malik Monk, Keon Ellis, and Devin Carter are all fighting for minutes at point guard is destined to fail.
Could Sacramento's lineup problem lead to a homecoming for Schroder?
While his efficiency was down from previous seasons, Dennis Schroder is still an impactful player heading into his 13th NBA season. Last season for three separate teams (Brooklyn, Golden State, and Detroit), he averaged 13.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 5.4 assists on 40.6% from the field and 34.2% from deep.
He appeared in 75 games despite his age and being traded twice, showcasing impressive durability as a solid backup two-way guard. If Sacramento were to realize the immense problem on their hands before the season begins, several NBA teams would inquire about trading for Dennis Schroder.
The Hawks seem comfortable heading into the new season with their current guard room, but the idea of bringing in Schroder on a bargain is something to consider if Atlanta suffers a major injury in the backcourt. Having a backup guard with organizational familiarity, as well as the ability to go off on any given night, is a real asset.
Atlanta is Dennis Schroder's longest-tenured team. He spent the first five seasons of his career here, averaging 12.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists on solid efficiency.
While the most realistic scenario is that Dennis Schroder stays in Sacramento for the 2025-26 NBA season, the signing of Russell Westbrook could complicate things, resulting in the former-Hawk being re-routed once again.