LAS VEGAS — The Celtics made one of the final splashes of the NBA offseason on Friday, officially signing one of the top names of this free agent class in Dennis Schröder to a one-year, $5.9-million contract.
Why did Boston -- without cap space or enough flexibility beneath the league’s “hard cap” to offer much more than that $5.9M -- get Schröder for a massive discount? The Celtics will reportedly pay Schröder $78 million less than an extension figure he now infamously declined with the Lakers last season in his lone year there. Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer told me on CLNS Media’s Dome Theory Podcast last week that number was more of a starting point for talks that Schröder balked at more than a hard offer, so LA looked to trade him in a potential deadline Kyle Lowry deal.
Then, a tight market largely dictated that Schröder would not get paid. Lowry went to Miami, Mike Conley stayed in Utah, Lonzo Ball signed with the Bulls and the Pelicans replaced him with Devonté Graham and Tomáš Satoranský. Schröder and Boston ended up being the last pair at the bar, one a point guard and the other in need of one for cheap. But there's more to this story.
A rival scout at NBA Summer League loved the value of the signing for Boston, asserting that this Celtics’ roster is better than last season’s group. Everything on-court checks out for Schröder, the source said, but “they may have to figure some stuff out off the court.”
First, Boston’s backcourt will need to sort out roles and comfort with a new coach in Ime Udoka. Josh Richardson played for him in Philadelphia, while Marcus Smart and Schröder have not. All three will play on expiring contracts looking to prove-it for a big deal next offseason, particularly Schröder after missing out on so much money. Keith Smith reported he will not expect a starting role, though that’s being said months away from the season.
The real concern is the rocky year Schröder spent in LA with a Lakers team that struggled to navigate injuries and fizzled out in the first round amid another struggle-filled playoff run by the guard. A German interview translation revealed some vaccine hesitancy, as he caused a stir by looping in LeBron James among the reportedly unvaccinated on the team, before Schröder clarified he was the only unvaccinated one on the team.
Schröder missed 11 games last season in the league’s COVID-19 protocol, amassing the 16th-most days of any player, and now joins the team that had the most COVID-related absences last year into a projected third season impacted by the virus. Whether or not he’s now vaccinated will surely be among the first questions he faces in his Boston introduction.
The talent is real though. Schröder is 27 years old, in the middle of his prime. He would’ve stood above Boston’s most adept drivers last season with 13.3 drives per game, nearly one drive more than Jayson Tatum, drew four free throws per game, but a 50.5% finishing rate inside could use improvement. Schröder finished second in sixth man of the year voting two seasons ago with the Thunder amid a 38.5% shooting spike from outside, though that’s been an anomaly for the 33.7% career three-point shooter. He won’t address spacing needs for the Celtics, but dished 5.8 assists per game last year as a secondary ball handler with a strong 27% assist percentage. Boston needed another ball mover badly and found one of the best point guards available.
Another league source described Schröder as a hard-nosed player with a chip on his shoulder. That could become the case more after being snubbed of a major contract. Two other rival sources in-conference liked, but didn’t love, what the Celtics did this offseason and see them generally being the same level of a team next year. Much of that could be decided by which Schröder Boston gets, the one who inspired the Lakers to begin contract negotiations last year, or the one who LA immediately overhauled its roster through a Russell Westbrook trade to replace?
Summer League Standouts
The Celtics had a good week between the Schröder signing and Payton Pritchard emerging as a Summer League MVP candidate through three games. His 1.38 points per possession (out of two) led the entire 30-team showcase, while Aaron Nesmith accumulated 1.22 PPP, in third.
Pritchard will leave Las Vegas, head coach Joe Mazzulla said Friday, for a prior arrangement with family. It’s typical for a second-year player to take a seat anyway once they’ve shown they’re above the level of play in Vegas. The Celtics started 3-0 behind the strides Pritchard and Nesmith showed as shooters and creators off the dribble. Mazzulla pressed that Pritchard needed to become a point guard who commands the floor in the pick-and-roll and creates for others.
“I think that’s what separates good point guards from becoming great,” Pritchard said Friday.
Elsewhere, 2021 No. 1 pick Cade Cunningham shook off a slow first half on Friday to score 24 points, seven rebounds and three assists look routine on 7-for-10 three-point shooting. He’s shooting 50% from three in Detroit’s three games. Rockets No. 2 pick Jalen Green dazzled, flashing a step-back jumper and averaging 20.3 points and 8.7 assists per game at point for Houston's fun Summer League squad. He was second behind Pritchard through three games in PPP, before his summer league ended with a sore hamstring. Still, try to watch this team before Summer League ends.
Evan Mobley has struggled, shooting 34.9% for the Cavaliers with more turnovers than assists. Cameron Thomas hit a one-footed leaning jumper to win a game for the Nets. Second-year 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey led the field with 26 PPG entering Saturday against Boston, where he’ll reportedly be absent after also departing Vegas early. Desmond Bane, who the Celtics traded on draft night, is shooting 69.2% in Summer League and ranks fourth with 24 PPG.
Vaccination mandates coming for fans
The Nets and Warriors shortly after announced their fans will need to be fully vaccinated during the 2021-22 season to attend games in their home arenas. Chris Mannix of SI reported that there’ll likely be a growing trend of teams choosing to require vaccination after it became widely available and the delta variant of COVID projects to complicate next NBA season.
The rule will apply to fans older than 12. In the Nets’ case, it will follow rules late in the 2021 season that require either proof of vaccination at the door, or a rapid negative COVID test from a site across the street before entering Barclays Center.
Kawhi staying put
Kawhi Leonard signed a four-year, $176.3 million contract with a fourth-year option with the Clippers after entering free agency following ACL surgery this summer. Leonard, like Kevin Durant in 2019-20, will miss most of the first year of his max contract as he recovers and potentially could make a late push to return around the playoffs.
Paul George and Leonard will next have the opportunity to hit free agency in 2024, giving the Clippers three more runs at a NBA title after blowing a 3-1 lead to Denver in the tandem’s first year, then losing Leonard amid a run to the western conference finals this year.
Other offseason leftovers
The Celtics officially signed Enes Kanter and Sam Hauser on Friday. Kemba Walker is going to the Knicks on a two-year, $18 million contract after giving back $20 million in a contract buyout with the Thunder. The Nets hope to close on contract extensions with James Harden and Kyrie Irving after Durant committed long-term last week. Marc Stein reported Lakers interest in Isaiah Thomas, as he shared he’s talking with multiple teams. The Mavericks locked up young their superstar Luka Doncic on a five-year, $207 million extension.