Dennis Schroder could not help but be candid about his desire to start for the Lakers in a virtual presser with scribes yesterday. After having been the first substitute off the bench for the Thunder in the last two years, he felt he had been there and done that, and figured his accomplishments — including finishing second in Voting for the 2019-20 Sixth Man of the Year — warranted a promotion. He didn’t mention it, but he was, no doubt, likewise recalling his last two years with the Hawks, during which time he proved to be a productive member of the First Five.
“I did this off-the-bench stuff already in two years with OKC,” Schroder told members of the media who joined in on the video conference call. “I think I try to move forward, and I think with [All-Stars Anthony Davis] and LeBron [James], I can be helpful as a starter in the PG position.” And he may well be right, although the brand of positionless basketball the Lakers displayed culminating in a championship last October should make him a valuable contributor regardless of when he will get his minutes. It’s a matter of pride, to be sure, hence his decision to get the discussion going even before the trade deal sending him to La-La Land was consummated.
Whether Schroder gets his wish remains to be seen. After all, he’s not replacing a nobody in his desire to start as the Lakers’ playmaker. The role was hitherto performed by James, who wound up doing so well as to lead the National Basketball Association in assists. Moreover, the makeup of the roster is such that he looks to be more effective running pick-and-roll sets with reigning Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell. Then again, the cream invariably rises to the top, and if there’s one thing head coach Frank Vogel has shown with his stellar stewardship since he joined the purple and gold in May 2019, it’s his capacity to make the most of the talent at his disposal.
The good news is that the Lakers have ample warm bodies familiar with the system. And they’re running it back after having been toughened by the singular experience of winning in a challenging bubble environment. From James to Davis to the rest of the returning cast, there will be more than enough knowledge going around to keep the newcomers toeing the line. Besides, Schroder knows that, in the final analysis, greeting the opening tip is less important than being on the court at the final buzzer — which is what he’ll be doing for certain. He was admittedly on the mark when he said “they brought me in for a reason.” While he “can’t wait to get started,” though, he would do well to acknowledge that it may not necessarily be to start.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management,corporate communications, and business development.
