Lakers Interested In Bringing Back Buyout Candidate Dennis Schroder

The Lakers would have some interest in signing point guard Dennis Schroder if his contract is bought out by the Rockets, according to Jovan Buha of The Athletic.

Schroder, 28, was acquired by the Rockets in a trade with the Celtics on Thursday. He is currently on an expiring contract reportedly worth $5.9 million for the season.

He was the Lakers’ starting point guard last year, but sought a large contract and left in free agency. Per Boha, Lakers brass is a bit divided on Schroder given the manner in which he departed.

In 49 games with the Celtics, Schroder put up 14.4 points to go with 4.2 assists, but proved to not be much of a fit or make much of a difference between winning and losing.

Still, the Lakers intend to try to add some help, someway, via the buyout market within the next few days. Schroder indeed appears to be on their radar.

“While there remains some division internally among the Lakers’ decision-makers regarding Schröder after his uncomfortable departure last summer, there is interest in bringing him back as a backup point guard,” Boha wrote.

The contingent of LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook has not made the Lakers looking like the contender they hoped to be — and far from it, actually. So considering anyone at this point is in LA’s best interest.

“But with so many small guards already, do the Lakers really need a reunion with this particular one?” wrote Harrison Faigen of SB Nation. “To be fair, Schröder admittedly provides more on defense than any of the team’s current backcourt options, and — unlike Russell Westbrook — has the late-game trust of head coach Frank Vogel.”