NBA season number eleven for Dennis Schröder – and the 31-year-old is playing at the level of his best years. As a leader, “Dennis the menace” puts the Brooklyn Nets on course for the playoffs at the start of the season – but that will be a thorn in the side of the franchise.
Dennis Schröder is really turning up the heat in his eleventh NBA season. Against the superstar team of the Phoenix Suns, the German point guard was unstoppable on Thursday night – for the second time this season.
His signature celebration after a three-pointer in Kevin Durant’s face is emblematic of Schröder’s current state of mind: Things are just going well for Schröder at the moment.
The 31-year-old had 29 points on the scoresheet after the 127:117 win against Durant and Co., in addition to four rebounds and three assists. Admittedly, his shooting rate of 38 percent could be improved, but who cares after the third win in a row for his Brooklyn Nets?
Especially since “Dennis the Menace,” as he is known in America, has been delivering such numbers regularly this season, and with convincing efficiency. On average, the 2023 World Cup MVP puts up 18 points and 6.5 assists (career best), coupled with a solid shooting rate of almost 46 percent from the field – and a strong 41.4 percent from beyond the three-point line (career best).
Schröder leads the Nets to victories – and that’s a problem!
Schröder is fully embracing his role as the undisputed starter, which he was only temporarily in his last NBA stops, and is reminiscent of his best seasons in Oklahoma City and Atlanta, in which he put up similar numbers. On average, he is on the field for over 34 minutes per game in head coach Jordi Fernandez’s team, more than ever before.
After their third win in a row, Brooklyn has a 9:10 record and is currently on course for the playoffs – at least they would be qualified for the play-in tournament at this early point in the season. A realistic prediction makes little sense this early in the season, but the very idea that the playoffs could be an issue actually conflicts with the franchise’s plans.
Because Brooklyn’s plan is exactly the opposite of winning, the Nets are in the rebuilding process. Nothing made this more clear than the trade of number one option Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks, for which Brooklyn received a number of draft picks with which to build the future of the franchise. A poor record is supposed to add another valuable pick this season – the franchise’s roster shouldn’t have any playoff contention on paper.
Nets were considered one of the worst teams in the NBA
Estimated in the preseason power rankings ESPN the Nets as the third worst team in the league, Bleacher Report saw at least four worse teams. However, with the current mediocre situation, Schröder and Co. are exceeding expectations, which is disrupting the Nets’ rebuild. After all, you want a high pick!
Before the season, top talent Cooper Flagg, who will most likely be selected number one in the upcoming draft, even seemed within reach. But at the moment the Nets are only likely to choose number 15: more defeats would be needed to have a realistic chance of getting the incredibly hyped talent.
Schröder trade could hardly make more sense
That’s why, along with other positive surprises in the Nets squad, Schröder is considered the number one trade candidate. In the final year of his two-year, $25 million contract, the Braunschweig native is available at an absolute bargain price compared to his performance on the court. In return, the Nets could receive additional picks to optimally position themselves for the future – and without Schröder, the franchise would certainly have nothing to do with the playoffs.
“The Nets must trade Dennis Schröder or extend him,” was the headline Sports Illustrated and also brought extra time into the game. However, there is a lot to be said against it from both sides, especially since Schröder is already 31 years old and would prefer to play for titles, which is not the case in Brooklyn in the medium term. On the other hand, the Nets are too good with Schröder to get top picks. A trade might be the better scenario for both parties.
Schröder, who has already played for seven teams in his NBA career, has already proven in the past that he can also make a valuable contribution to title contenders with less playing time. During his two seasons with the LA Lakers, the German point guard was a factor that should not be neglected, and in 2023 they even made it into the Conference Finals as the seventh-best team in the Western Conference, where the traditional franchise had no chance against the eventual champions from Denver .
Schröder suddenly shows up at the Lakers game
The same Lakers around LeBron James, along with several other contenders, are once again seen as potential trade targets for Schröder this season, who is still very popular with Los Angeles fans. When he suddenly sat on the sidelines at the Lakers game in Phoenix at the beginning of the week, the rumor mill started to boil.
Of course, the truth is that Schröder also played with his Nets against the Suns the following evening and still maintains connections with his old teammates from LA.
Nevertheless, “Dennis the menace” didn’t just play into the shop window for the Lakers. Other teams will also be closely monitoring his situation, including another of Braunschweig’s former teams, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
