Dennis Schroder potential trade piece, but Nets won’t just give him away
Dennis Schroder’s career year is a huge reason why the Nets have been better than expected. And also why he could be playing himself right off the roster.
With the Nets committed to a rebuild, they were projected to have the worst team in basketball — and the catbird seat for the lottery.
Instead, Schroder’s leadership has them squarely in race for the play-in — and teams around the NBA inquiring about the veteran floor general’s services.
“He’s the head of the snake. He’s our point guard. He’s always cool, calm and collected, and he helps us be that way,” Dorian Finney-Smith said of Schroder. “He’s been playing great ball, letting it fly. … He’s been playing well.”
Well enough to be drawing attention on the trade market, which begins in earnest on Sunday, when the 80 players signed in the summer can be moved.
But the Nets’ demands for Schroder won’t be low, likely including a first-round pick.
“They’re not giving anyone away,” a source told The Post.
Schroder is averaging 18.6 points and 6.3 assists, shooting 38.5 percent from deep and 88.9 percent from the charity stripe.
All but the scoring are career highs, as are his steals, Effective Field Goal percentage and his True Shooting.
On Sunday against Milwaukee, Schroder finished with 34 points, 11 assists and no turnovers while holding Damian Lillard to 2-for-7 shooting with seven turnovers. He’s the only player in the league all season with 30-plus points, 10-plus assists and no turnovers in a game.
“He’s been great,” Nic Claxton said. “[Schroder] has been in the
league for so many years, so he’s a veteran point guard and we all rally behind him.”
In short, combined with his pesky 94-foot defense and fiery vocal leadership, Schroder has helped keep the Nets competitive. Too competitive for some.
If the season ended now, the Nets would draft 15th, a far cry from where some tank-happy fans hope.
But moving Schroder would drastically change their outlook, currently just three games away from being in the Bottom 5.
Schroder has missed just two games, Ben Simmons starting both.
Simmons is always an injury concern, with Shake Milton and Cam Thomas the only others Jordi Fernandez has used at the point for any real time.
“He’s feisty as they come. Competes every second,” said Cam Johnson, another veteran on the market. “He’s able to score the ball and assist the ball; 30-plus points, 10-plus assists is the kind of guy we all know he is. He’s just a great teammate on top [of that].
“He’ll come to you, talk to you about anything, good things, bad things … constructive criticism or positive encouragement and reinforcement. And you know when you step on the court with him he always has your back. Anything pops off, he always has your back. Anybody starts chirping, he always has your back. Teammates like that are really valuable.”
But just how valuable?
On an expiring $13 million deal, Schroder has value.
On Tuesday, ESPN reported that Golden State is among those teams that have reached out to Brooklyn, and that picks and injured De’Anthony Melton (on a $12.8 million expiring deal) could be a fit.
“I’ve been in the league 12 years and people have talked about my name in trade talks for 12 years. I’ve [only] been traded twice, so [gossip] is going to happen,” Schroder told The Post last month. “They use it as an event where they can promote who is on the block. I don’t really care.
“But I’ve bought into this system right now because they pay my checks, and I’m doing my job every single day, and I’m always professional about it, always going to make the most out of it. Get 1 percent better every day. And whatever happens, happens. I understand it’s a business, but no worries here.”
Nets owner Joe Tsai’s minority stake in the Dolphins and ex-Net Vince Carter’s minority stake in the Bills are set for a vote from NFL owners in Dallas on Wednesday, per Front Office Sports.
