KEY POINTS

  • A Schroder-Lakers reunion could make sense in the offseason, according to book author Roland Lazenby
  • The Lakers tried to pull off a trade before the February 10 deadline, but the Celtics wanted a much better offer
  • Schroder was traded to the Rockets and he is unlikely to stay in Houston after the season

The Los Angeles Lakers are most likely to lose Russell Westbrook after the 2021-22 NBA season.

The heavy criticism he has gotten and the fact he has a player option strongly point to an exit.

Assuming the inevitable, the Lakers appear to be headed towards another situation where they would need a point guard to tandem with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

One person who makes sense is Dennis Schroder.

In the eyes of veteran American journalist Roland Lazenby, Schroder would be a logical fit.

Aside from that, it would be a chance for the 28-year-old guard to recoup losses due to a “bonehead” move that he did last season.

“Schroder played for the Lakers and had a monster offer from them in one of the all-time boneheaded moves. Turned down a huge contract to play for peanuts, ended up playing for peanuts in Boston,” the 70-year-old pointed out when he appeared on the Sports Bytes PH podcast hosted by Filipino scribe Brian Yalung.

After spending parts of the 2021-22 season with the Boston Celtics, the German guard was traded to the Houston Rockets.

It remains to be seen if he will finish the season with the Rockets or gets bought out.

Either way, Schroder hopes to get a better deal in the offseason, something the Lakers may give.

“He is going to be one of those guys in the open market this spring and that would be a logical fit. He already has history with those guys. They know what he can do, probably is going to have a bigger role. I think he is eager to try and regain that money they were going to offer him,” Lazenby explained.

“So to me, that is the one that makes the most sense. There could be possibly others, but I think that is the one who might possibly work,” he added.

Ironically, the Lakers had reportedly expressed interest in Schroder even before the February 10 trade deadline lapsed.

Unfortunately, Boston wanted more from the Lakers at the time.

According to a report by Heavy.com, the Lakers offered a couple of second-round picks to the Celtics.

Dennis Schroder #71 of the Boston Celtics
Dennis Schroder #71 of the Boston Celtics Getty Images | Omar Rawlings