Among the teams are in the rebuilding stage, the Brooklyn Nets seem to be further behind than everyone. However, as anyone who looked at their rearview mirror knows, objects may be closer than they appear.
Nets Guard Dennis Schroder Doubles Down On Desire To Make Brooklyn Home
The Nets already have two young players with star potential in Cam Thomas and Nic Claxton. Then there are the veterans, like Ben Simmons, Cameron Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Dennis Schroder. Each of them, including Simmons, has a valuable role on the team.
In fact, Schroder is considered the Nets’ locker room leader.
Not Thomas, who is their most naturally gifted scorer. Not Claxton, who is their only definitive franchise cornerstone. Schroder, who Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez lauds for his ability to lead by example.
Jordi Fernandez on what he’s seen from Dennis Schroder as a leader:
“That’s who he is… He does it in his own way, and he’ll let you know it, and I like it… It’s important because when we go back to: Who do we want to be and how do we want to do it? How do we represent the… pic.twitter.com/TEnFrNsgRN
— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) October 27, 2024
These comments were made on the heels of Schroder checking a fan who made disparaging comments about Simmons in the team’s tunnel. To be clear, he didn’t come at the fan for having an opinion. The fan attempted to throw rocks and hide his hand, probably thinking he was living out his social media fantasies.
Schroder sticking up for his teammates is something that is going to be appreciated in the locker room. Knowing that someone has your back and will do it publicly only enhances the team camaraderie. It also lends credence to the belief that he’ll stay with the Nets long-term.
Asked Dennis Schroder why he’s said several times that he wants to stay with the Nets long-term:
“When I first got traded here, they texted my mom, texted my wife, sent them flowers. I love things like that. My teammates from the first day were talking to me, and they made me…
— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) October 28, 2024
Kind gestures have made him feel comfortable and welcomed in Brooklyn and he’s just completing the circuit.
Will Dennis Schroder Re-Sign With The Nets?
Though he’s now considered a journeyman, Schroder’s desire to stay with the Nets long-term reflects his personality. At the start of his career, he played for the Atlanta Hawks for five seasons. He’s played for the German national team since 2011. The guy has even been married since 2019.
Schroder is a man who has no issues making a long-term commitment when he believes the situation is right for him. That’s what he believes about the Nets, so it isn’t hard to see him re-signing with Brooklyn if the numbers make sense. Obviously, he made a mistake when he turned down a four-year, $84 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2021. Had he accepted the deal, he might be in L.A. instead of D’Angelo Russell.
That being said, Schroder seems wise enough to not make the same mistake twice.
More Job Security In Brooklyn?
The Nets have an advantage over other franchises in that they can offer him more money and job security. As far as the zeroes in his check are concerned, the Nets are projected to have more cap space than any team next summer. They’ll also hold Schroder’s Early Bird Rights. Thus, the only way they would be outbid for Schroder is if they didn’t want to pay him as much as another franchise.
In terms of his job security in the boroughs of New York?
On a rebuilding team, like Brooklyn, the vast majority of players will be expendable. Yet, on a championship-contender, the pressure makes every game feel like an audition for their future. This isn’t to say that Schroder doesn’t welcome the challenge that comes along with competing with titles. Rather, franchises who are in the position to compete for a title assess the state of their roster in shorter increments.
If Schroder should re-sign with the Nets, they’re unlikely to trade him unless he becomes a distraction. Either that or it helps them land a young star. For example, if the Nets wanted to trade for the No. 1 pick in an upcoming draft and needed Schroder’s contract to complete the deal, they would probably pull the trigger.
Conversely, say trading him allowed them to acquire a better player but one who was only marginally more talented, had to be convinced to re-sign, or could become a locker room nuisance. They might not take that risk because it doesn’t help them in the long-term.
