It wouldn't be trade season in the NBA if Dennis Schroder's name wasn't in the mix. The man has played for a full third of franchises since being drafted in 2013. And he might be adding another to the list soon as the New York Knicks may knock on the Sacramento Kings' door.
Schroder started at an incredibly difficult time for the Kings. The head coach had been fired, the starting point guard was traded, and the front office had been turned over. Plus. the roster was an imbalanced mishmash of players without a cohesive structure. That hasn't changed.
In the wake of De'Aaron Fox's departure, Schroder was brought in as the new starting point guard. Given the success he had over the summer in the FIBA EuroBasket Tournament, he arrived in Sacramento with a lot of hype. That extra pressure probably didn't help his sitution at all.
Schroder finds his rhythm playing of the bench
Schroder was playing terribly in the beginning of the season, and he knew it. Moving him to the bench to take the pressure off was the obvious choice, particularly since Russell Westbrook was playing phenomenally at that point. Putting him in as the starter just made sense.
Keeping in mind an injury kept him out for six games, Schroder has been better since his bench move and the numbers show it. His field goal attempts have increased as has his field goal percentage. His movements seem more relaxed and crisp, and his defense is tightening up
As such, it makes sense a team like the Knicks might be looking at Schroder as a reliable guard and shooter to play off the bench. If he's on a better team, his numbers will likely continue to improve. But that might not be the right move for the Kings.
Sacramento should consider keeping Schroder
Everyone knows that general manager Scott Perry wants to start a massive rebuild of the Kings that will take years to play out. It's also been made abundantly clear by Perry and the rest of the organization that they're open to talk trades about 90% of their roster.
That might be the wrong move. Part of the reason Schroder has never played at the same level in the NBA as he does in FIBA is that he never gets a chance to put roots down. He's great trade fodder. If the Kings give him the chance, Schroder could become the strong bench anchor they need.
The Knicks definitely have plenty of assets to offer, including draft picks and more than a few intriguing players. Plus, Schroder is not an expensive contract to move. It's likely he'll be traded before the deadline in February, but the Kings need to ensure a good return if they go that route.