The Detroit Pistons faced a tough decision last offseason regarding veteran guard Dennis Schröder, who had become a significant contributor during the latter part of the previous season and playoffs. Ultimately, the organization opted not to retain him after he received a three-year, $44 million offer from the Sacramento Kings. Early indicators suggest that this decision may have been prudent, as Schröder’s start with the Kings has been far from stellar.
Currently, Schröder is experiencing one of his least efficient seasons since his rookie year, posting a True Shooting percentage of just 47.8% over ten games. His free-throw attempt rate has plummeted to its lowest level, and he is making merely 28.3% of his three-point attempts. Despite these struggles, he has been a starter in all of the Kings’ games, averaging 31.6 minutes on the court.
The Kings possess significant backcourt depth, featuring players like Russell Westbrook, Keon Ellis, Malik Monk, and Zach LaVine, which complicates Schröder’s fit within the rotation. With dominating scorers such as DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis also playing alongside him, the expectation for Schröder to perform at a high level proves challenging. His current inefficiency has contributed to the team’s disappointing start, tallying a record of 3-7 and holding the fifth-worst net rating in the league at -8.6.
This pattern of Schröder’s career has been notable; he frequently excels in smaller roles but struggles under larger responsibilities, leading to a cycle that has seen him play with ten teams throughout his 13 years in the league.
Had Schröder remained with the Pistons, his role could have been more clearly defined, allowing him to maximize his strengths. His playmaking skills would have been vital during non-Cade Cunningham minutes, while his defensive abilities would have helped maintain Detroit’s elite defensive status even when the bench was in play.
However, the decision to pass on matching Sacramento’s offer appears justified as the Pistons look toward a bright future. As much as Schröder might miss competing for a contending team like Detroit, the flexibility gained by avoiding the hefty long-term contract could benefit the Pistons moving forward. The ongoing challenges for Schröder in Sacramento may serve as a reminder of the complexities within team dynamics and individual roles in professional basketball.