Los Angeles Lakers have been in the center of trade rumors this offseason, being linked with names like All-Star guard Chris Paul and San Antonio Spurs’ DeMar DeRozan. However, it turns out that the Lakers had a completely unexpected name on their board.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Lakers are close to finalizing a deal with Oklahoma City Thunder that would see them acquire guard Dennis Schroder. In return, Thunder will receive the Lakers’ No. 28 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and forward Danny Green.
The deal is expected to be official on Wednesday when the NBA opens the transaction window.
Wojnarowski reports that the Lakers won’t be able to send the No. 28 pick to Thunder right away. They previously traded away their pick in 2019, and the league forbids teams to deal picks in consecutive years.
The most likely solution will be Thunder communicating to the Lakers and telling them which player to choose, with the Lakers later sending that player to OKC after they sign him to a rookie deal.
Dennis Schroder was pursued by several teams this offseason after he delivered a promising campaign in 2019/20 coming off the bench for Thunder. The 27-year-old player ended up averaging 18.9 points and 4.0 assists per game and finishing second in Sixth Man of the Year voting.
Lakers were on the market for a point guard for the better part of the offseason, looking to fix their depth on the position. They are likely to lose Rajon Rondo and Avery Bradley in the offseason, which would leave them with Alex Caruso as the only viable option on the position.
By trading for Schroder, the Lakers now get a player who can not only make up for Rondo and Bradley’s absence, but would probably start over them if they stay.
