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Some pressure was lifted off Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum on Friday afternoon as the Boston Celtics added another offensive weapon to the mix by signing veteran point guard Dennis Schroder.
The move came a full 11 days after free agency started, but the wait was well worth it. Schroder was one of the best players available on the market, and he should settle into an important role as a scorer and playmaker for a Celtics team that needed a player with such experience and skills. .
The Celtics also increased their frontcourt depth on Friday by bringing in veteran center Enes Kanter, who previously played for the team in 2019-20. On top of that, they filled one of their spots in either direction with the addition of Summer League star Max Hauser, a rookie wing who knocked down six points to 3 points in Friday’s victory. tonight against the Orlando Magic.
The addition of Schroder, along with Josh Richardson two weeks earlier, should help fill in the gaps left by offseason departures Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker. Both new players have a big offensive punch, especially Schroder, who has career averages of 14.3 points and 4.7 assists per game over eight NBA seasons.
Schroder’s first five seasons were spent in Atlanta, where he developed a reputation as a disjointed competitor. Celtics fans probably remember Schroder’s such tenacity in the many heated playoff battles they have shared over the years. His last season in Atlanta in 2017-18 was the most significant, as he averaged a career-high 19.4 PPG with 6.2 APG, 3.1 rebounds per game and 1.1 steals per game.
The German native then moved to Oklahoma City, where he had the unique opportunity to support two Hall of Fame-related playmakers in consecutive years – first with Russell Westbrook in 2018-19, then with Chris Paul in 2019-20. He has gained such valuable experience while being one of the league’s sixth most productive men. In fact, he led all bench scorers in 2019-2020 with 18.4 PPG and finished second in the NBA’s sixth man of the year behind winner Montrezl Harrell.
Prior to last season, Schroder was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, with whom he played alongside two other Hall of Fame players, Anthony Davis and LeBron James. The big difference this time around was that Schroder got to live the experience while serving as a starter. He averaged 15.4 PPG and 5.8 APG, finishing the team’s third-best scorer behind James and Davis, and second-best assistant behind James, respectively.
Schroder could find himself in a similar role this coming season, as he prepares to dress alongside another pair of stars in Brown and Tatum. Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens intended to build on those two, and their new point guard should be a solid add-on.
Schroder is a sneaky and quick offensive player who excels at leading to the basket. Last season, he averaged 13.3 records per game, which would have placed him first over the Celtics in that category ahead of Tatum (12.4) and Brown (10.5). He chose to pass on 42.9% of those workouts, a trend that should bode well for Tatum and Brown, who will likely be the recipients of many such dishes. And when fouled on those records, Schroder converts his free throws into an 83.1% effective career clip.
The Cs should also benefit from Schroder’s landing as he is at the peak of his career at 27 (he will be 28 on September 15). However, he’s been playing like a player in his prime since the age of 23 when he enjoyed his exceptional season in Atlanta with 17.9 PGG averages and a career-best 6.3 APG. Since starting this season five years ago, Schroder is one of 13 NBA players to average at least 17 PPGs and 5 APGs. The other 12 players were all All-Stars.
The Celtics don’t necessarily ask Schroder to be an All-Star, but they are hopeful he will compete as one. And that shouldn’t be a problem considering what he wrote to Celtics fans on his Instagram Story after making a deal with Boston: “I’m proud to announce that for the 2021-22 season I will be playing. with the Boston Celtics. This is one of the best franchises in NBA history and it will be an honor to don the green and the white and do what I love! I go there every evening and I leave everything on the ground for the city !! Who’s ready ?! ”
Celtics fans should be just as excited to welcome Schroder as they are to put on their beloved uniform. He’s the extra goalscorer and playmaker they need, he’s a seasoned veteran who has played alongside many future Hall of Fame members, and he’s exactly the type of player who can complete both. Brown and Tatum as they continue to ride.
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