On Saturday, the Cleveland Cavaliers head to Sacramento to take on the Kings - and for Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis, it’s a quick turnaround and an even quicker reunion with their former team. Just 24 hours earlier, both players suited up for the Cavs for the first time after being acquired in a three-team trade that sent De’Andre Hunter to Sacramento.
For Schroder, this marks his 11th NBA stop - a journey that’s seen him play just about every role imaginable. And true to form, he wasted no time making his presence felt.
Coming off the bench, Schroder put up 14 shots in 19 minutes. He only connected on five, but the scoring efficiency wasn’t really the story.
He added six assists and three steals, showing flashes of the two-way spark that can make him such a valuable piece in the right system.
After the game, Schroder didn’t hold back when asked about the transition - and his comments made it clear he’s already feeling the difference.
“Holding them under 50 points in a half, we didn’t have that in Sac for a long time,” Schroder said. “A really competitive group here that wants to play defense, share the ball and play fast.
I love it. I feel comfortable already.”
That’s a pointed statement, and it adds a little extra spice to Saturday’s matchup. But it’s hard to argue with the sentiment.
Sacramento has struggled on both ends of the floor this season. Offensively, only the injury-depleted Pacers have been less efficient.
Defensively, the Kings have been near the bottom of the league - ahead of only the Wizards and Jazz in defensive rating.
And those rankings might not hold for long. Washington and Utah both made bold moves at the deadline, bringing in Anthony Davis and Jaren Jackson Jr., respectively. Those additions alone could vault them past Sacramento in the defensive metrics before long.
Meanwhile, the Cavaliers are trending in the opposite direction - and in a good way. They currently sit 12th in defensive rating and eighth in offensive rating, and those numbers have been climbing during a hot stretch in which they’ve won nine of their last 11 games.
During that run, they’ve held opponents under 100 points four times - a rare feat in today’s high-scoring league. For comparison, the Kings have managed that just twice all season - and they lost one of those games anyway.
For Schroder, this move feels like a breath of fresh air. Playoff success has been elusive in recent years, but he’s no stranger to the postseason.
He reached the conference finals with the Lakers in 2023 and with the Hawks way back in 2015 - both times falling just short of the NBA Finals. Now, he joins a Cavs squad that came into the season with high expectations and, after some early inconsistency, is starting to look like a team that could make noise in the East.
There’s still a long way to go, but Schroder’s arrival adds another layer to a Cleveland team that’s finding its rhythm at the right time. And if Saturday’s game has a little extra edge to it? Well, that’s just good basketball.