NBA Notes: Hornets, Dennis Schroder, Warriors, Jimmy Butler, Pistons

Hornets

Dennis Schroder isn’t ready to put an expiration date on his NBA career, though the new Hornets guard has at least given it some thought.

Schroder said during an appearance on the OMR podcast that he could envision spending another two to four years in the NBA, according to Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops. The 32-year-old also acknowledged that the right contract offer could keep him around longer.

Whenever his NBA days do end, Schroder already knows where he’d like to finish his playing career.

“People often ask me if I could come back to play in Europe, especially in the EuroLeague,” Schroder said. “But in that case, I’d be helping another club become bigger. I prefer to return to Braunschweig, where it all started, and play here.”

Schroder owns a majority stake in the German club and began his professional career there before coming to the NBA in 2013.

He was traded to Charlotte last week after finishing last season with the Cavaliers.

Warriors

Jimmy Butler‘s recovery from a torn ACL gives the Warriors plenty to think about beyond this season.

Butler is entering the final year of his contract at $56.8 million and will turn 37 in September. Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports recently suggested there is hope Butler could return before the end of the calendar year.

As for what happens after that, Joey Akeley of Sports Illustrated floated the idea of Golden State eventually using James Harden‘s new Cavaliers contract as something of a measuring stick in negotiations with Butler.

That’s speculation, not an indication of the Warriors’ plans.

Harden, who turns 37 this week, just agreed to a three-year, $97 million fully guaranteed contract with Cleveland. Butler’s age and ACL injury could obviously factor into whatever Golden State decides he’s worth on another deal.

The Warriors can also simply wait. Butler’s performance after returning figures to tell them considerably more than any August projection can.

Pistons

The Pistons will have plenty of lineup possibilities after another offseason of roster changes.

Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press examined several potential combinations, including a shooting-heavy lineup of Cade Cunningham, Isaiah Joe, Duncan Robinson, Taurean Prince and John Collins.

Sankofa projects Collins as the likely fifth starter alongside Cunningham, Robinson, Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren, assuming the restricted free agent Duren ultimately returns.

Detroit could also lean heavily into shooting when matchups call for it.

The addition of Collins gives coach J.B. Bickerstaff another experienced frontcourt option and, perhaps more importantly, another way to configure the pieces around Cunningham.