NBA: Dennis Schroder returns to Lakers
FILE – Dennis Schroder #17 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball during the first half of Game Two of the Western Conference first-round playoff series at Phoenix Suns Arena on May 25, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFP
The team confirmed the signing without announcing contract terms. Schroder’s agent, Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports, told ESPN that the deal is for one year and $2.64 million.
Schroder, who turned 29 on Thursday, played for the Lakers during the 2020-21 season and infamously turned down an extension reportedly worth $84 million over four years.
Schroder ended up signing a one-year, $5.9 million with the Boston Celtics as a free agent. He averaged 14.4 points and 4.2 assists in 49 games with Boston before he was traded to the Houston Rockets.
He averaged 10.9 points and 5.9 assists in 15 games for Houston.
Now he is reunited with new Lakers head coach Darvin Ham, who was an assistant coach with the Atlanta Hawks when Schroder played there from 2013-14 to 2017-18.
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said in a statement, “We are extremely pleased to welcome Dennis Schroder back to the Lakers. Not only do Dennis and Coach Ham share a player-coach history together, but they also reflect one another’s mentality of toughness with an extremely competitive edge.
“Dennis will add both depth and an on-ball defensive presence to our core at the guard position. He is also a proven scorer and playmaker. We are really excited for Dennis to get to camp and get back to work in L.A. after his highly successful run with his national team this offseason.”
During his season with the Lakers, Schroder averaged 15.4 points and 5.8 assists in 61 games.
Overall, Schroder is averaging 14.2 points and 4.7 assists in 621 games (267 starts) over nine seasons with the Hawks, Oklahoma City Thunder (2018-19 to 2019-20), Lakers, Celtics and Rockets.
