Dennis Schroder’s Time in Sacramento Might Be Running Out - and the Clock Just Started Ticking
The Sacramento Kings came into this season with a clear plan: add a veteran point guard to stabilize the offense, tie together their collection of scoring wings, and make a legitimate run in the Western Conference. On paper, it made sense.
With someone to organize the offense, players like Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Keegan Murray, and Malik Monk could all thrive in their natural roles. But as we near the midpoint of the season, that plan has unraveled - and Dennis Schroder is at the center of it.
Let’s rewind to the summer. In order to stay under the luxury tax while pursuing their point guard target, the Kings made a tough call: they shipped off reliable big man Jonas Valanciunas to the Denver Nuggets.
In return, they took on Dario Saric - a stretch big in theory, but one who’s struggled to stay in the rotation. The move cleared the way for Sacramento to sign Schroder, a well-traveled veteran who had a solid finish to last season in Detroit.
But even then, the Pistons didn’t fight to keep him.
Fast forward to now, and Schroder’s stint in Sacramento has gone south - fast. He’s shooting just 39.9% from the field and 34.9% from three.
That’s not going to cut it for a lead guard in today’s NBA, especially one who’s taking a healthy number of shots. On the defensive end, he’s been a liability, and the advanced metrics back it up.
ESPN’s Net Points metric pegs him at -3.2 points per 100 possessions compared to an average player - ranking him among the bottom ten in the entire league.
That’s not just a rough patch. That’s actively hurting your team on both ends of the floor.
In response, the Kings have turned to Russell Westbrook - who wasn’t even on a roster when training camp started. Westbrook has brought energy and effort, and while his production hasn’t been significantly better, his presence alone has earned him minutes. But let’s be honest: if Westbrook is your best option at this stage of his career, you’ve got bigger problems.
And Sacramento knows it.
The Trade Window Has Opened - Literally
The Kings are now exploring a trade for Schroder, and timing could be on their side. As of December 15, players who signed with new teams in free agency - like Schroder - are eligible to be traded. It’s the unofficial opening of NBA trade season, and Sacramento is expected to be active.
There’s another wrinkle to consider: under a recent rule change, if a team acquires a player by December 16, they can flip that player again at the trade deadline - something that wasn’t always possible in the past. Schroder himself was part of a similar transaction last season. He was traded to the Golden State Warriors in mid-December, then later included in the Jimmy Butler deal when things didn’t pan out in the Bay Area.
That kind of flexibility could make Schroder more appealing to a team looking to manage cap space or make a larger move down the line. He’s not playing well, but he’s still a veteran point guard with playoff experience and a moveable contract. That’s the kind of asset that can grease the wheels of a bigger deal.
Is There a Market for Schroder?
It’s a tough sell, no doubt. Schroder’s value is at a low point, and the Kings aren’t in a position of leverage.
But the NBA trade market is fluid, and sometimes all it takes is one domino to fall. A team looking for depth at the guard spot - or a team trying to match salaries in a multi-player deal - could see Schroder as a necessary piece.
Meanwhile, Sacramento would love to reset. The absence of Valanciunas has left a noticeable hole in their frontcourt rotation, and Saric hasn’t filled it. Moving on from Schroder won’t fix everything, but it would be a step toward recalibrating a roster that’s clearly out of sync.
As for Schroder, his last game in a Kings uniform might already be in the books: a 25-minute outing against the Timberwolves where he scored 17 points and posted a -5 in the box score. That’s actually one of his stronger showings this season - a sign of how far expectations have fallen.
The Kings took a swing with Schroder. It didn’t connect.
Now, with the trade window open, they’ve got a chance to pivot. Whether they find a taker remains to be seen, but one thing’s clear: the Dennis Schroder experiment in Sacramento is on borrowed time.