Everyone knows that the Sacramento Kings are on the hunt for a new point guard to provide backcourt depth, and they have a few options. Some of those choices make sense, and some feel really short-sighted. One thing is clear: the Kings are angling for a guard, and they want one soon.
On Wednesday, Marc Stein and Jake Fischer reported that the Kings are leading suitors to land Dennis Schroder, who most recently played for the Detroit Pistons. Schroder isn't perfect. In fact, he has his fair share of problems. He could provide help, but he shouldn't be the end of Sacramento's offseason pursuits.
Acquiring Dennis Schroder should be only the beginning for Sacramento
Schroder is about to become a free agent and has had a very hard time staying in one place for too long lately. Since 2023-24, he has played for the Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, and Detroit Pistons. During his stint with the Pistons, he put up 10.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 5.3 assists.
At his peak, he was producing more than 18 points a night, but times have changed for Schroder. Would he do better playing for a team long-term? Does he just need to find a place to settle and become comfortable? Perhaps the Kings' front office envisions him enhancing in Sacramento with more responsibilities and job security.
Even though their own bad choices got them into this situation, the Kings definitely need a guard, and Schroder could fill that void. But his recent work in the league proves that he's not a starting guard. He could be enticing as a backup player, however.
If the Kings take that route and offer Schroder a backup role, they need to be careful about how much they spend. Most reports state that he will be eligible for about $14 million with a mid-level exception, but is that too much for Sacramento? If they feel they don't have many other options, they may go for it.
Dennis Schroder is 31 years old, and his production has been inconsistent lately. He isn't the sort of player to build a franchise around, but he could chip in off the bench. The Kings need to keep focused on bigger and more important goals, and they shouldn't stop with Schroder. He might be a good fit, but he would be just one piece of the puzzle being assembled in Sacramento.