Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Dennis Schroder (17) reacts against the Phoenix Suns at the Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
After going 52-30 last season, the Cleveland Cavaliers did not enter this summer feeling any pressure to make a move. Still, after their humiliating defeat in the Conference Finals, fans were clamoring for the Cavaliers to make at least some roster changes.
While they lost the opportunity to sign LeBron James, they could still land someone like Jonathan Kuminga or Peyton Watson if they play their cards right. The key involves moving off Dennis Schroder, who continues to be discussed in trades across the league.
“The Cavs continue to discuss various trade packages involving Schroder, seeing if there is an opportunity to slightly reconfigure the roster or gain financial flexibility, which would help their pursuit of free agents Jonathan Kuminga and Peyton Watson,” reported Chris Fedor.
With Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen, the Cavaliers already have a star-studded core to carry them into the future. They believe in this group, and they’ve already shown flashes of greatness together on the court. Even so, adding some more depth around the edges couldn’t hurt the Cavs, especially with the East expected to be deeper and more competitive next season.
Schroder, 32, is set to make roughly $15 million per year for the next two seasons, meaning he’s a sizeable cap hold for Cleveland. That’s why he might be the best way for the Cavs to acquire a high-end role player like Peyton Watson or Jonathan Kuminga, assuming they’re willing to attach picks in a deal.
At 6’1″, Schroder is an undersized NBA guard, but his trade value might be higher than you think. Last season, in 70 games, the German-born scorer averaged 10.8 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game on 40.5% shooting and 32.9% shooting from three. He’s a longtime NBA veteran, a reliable scorer, and (by all accounts) a team player who strives to bring the best out in his teammates.
At this time, it’s unclear which teams are interested in Schroder, or what they are willing to offer, but the Cavaliers won’t be too picky if it means clearing up space and gaining that precious cap flexibility. If they can’t use it for Watson or Kuminga, they can find someone else on the market, which still has plenty of worthy players. What they need the most right now is help on the wing, which explains their interest in Peyton Watson.
For Schroder, this summer could be an opportunity to opt out of Cleveland and opt for a fresh start elsewhere. He was down to 21.4 minutes per game last season, his lowest since the 2015-16 campaign. As he nears the end of his prime, he likely wants to find a team where he can play a more meaningful role while also regularly playing in competitive games.
For now, it’s anyone’s guess what will happen next, but the Cavaliers hold all the leverage here. With no pressure or requirement to trade Schroder, they will only give him up if it makes sense for their long-term goals. So far, no detail has materialized, and it could take some time before the Cavaliers find something that works.