The Detroit Pistons were forced to part ways with guard Dennis Schröder this offseason, with the defender's market getting pushed out of their comfort zone. It was the right decision, even with how great Schröder had been for the franchise. His ferocity on defense and driving ability helped even out the roster and gave an energetic defender to throw at the opposing team's best guard. It is a long way from when Schröder started his career with the Atlanta Hawks as a defensive liability. It has become arguably the most important part of the veteran's game.
Still, the Pistons couldn't afford to pay what the Sacramento Kings were willing to spend on the veteran point guard. Schröder cashed in during free agency, signing a three-year contract worth $44-million. It is a deserved raise, but one the Pistons didn't need to hand the veteran with where their roster currently stands. The guard will be missed after spending half a season helping the team return to relevance. Still, it was the right decision considering the high cost that the Kings will quickly regret.
Kings Will Regret Paying Dennis Schröder Top Dollar
The fact that Schröder is going to be a source of frustration for the Kings is less about the point guard and more about the organization and the price they willingly paid. For some odd reason, the Kings decided that recreating a play-in team was the right move after parting ways with a franchise point guard.
Recreating the Chicago Bulls' core (Zach LaVine plus DeMar DeRozan) was a surprise for a franchise that has been stuck in neutral for the past two years. Paying a veteran guard top dollar and expecting him to be the final piece is setting both sides up for failure. This isn't to say Schröder is going to struggle or not be the version of himself that the point guard was last season. Rather, it is pointing out the reality that the Kings have paid the veteran as if he is going to be the missing piece to a contending roster.
As the Kings attempt to hang in the play-in race late next season, it is going to be a source of frustration that the team wasted so much cap space on a player who isn't capable of moving the needle for this roster. Schröder made the right decision for his career, cashing in on his year with the Pistons. However, it isn't going to end well for either side, looking at a roster that is clearly destined for failure.