Light the confetti and cue the dramatic soundtrack—NBA journeyman Dennis Schröder has finally inked a three-year, $45 million deal with the Sacramento Kings, but this headline-worthy signing comes with steep hindsight: the young German guard once turned down a potential $84 million Lakers extension back in 2021, and the countdown to regret began ticking.
🔥 The Deal That Could’ve Been: Lakers’ $84M Extension
In 2021, fresh off a promising stint with the Los Angeles Lakers, Schröder reportedly declined a four-year, $80–84 million extension during the season. Betting on his rising stock, he aimed for a bigger payday—but his numbers didn’t quite meet expectations:
- Dip in per-game averages across points, field goals, and three-pointers
- Playoff performance that failed to sparkle
That decision triggered a career slump—Schröder skipped out on nearly $78 million in earnings, and the post-Lakers ride was rocky at best.
🧭 The NBA Nomad: 9 Teams in 4 Years
Since turning down the Lakers’ big offer, Schröder has worn nine different NBA uniforms:
- Boston Celtics (1-year, $5.9M)
- Houston Rockets (mid-season trade)
- Lakers (1-year, $2.64M return)
- Toronto Raptors (2-year, $26M)
- Brooklyn Nets (Feb 2024 trade)
- Golden State Warriors (Dec 2024)
- Detroit Pistons (Feb 2025 trade)
- And now… Sacramento Kings (signed 3-year, $45M)
In the 2024‑25 season alone, he suited up for 23 games with Brooklyn, 24 with Golden State, and 28 with Detroit—a whirlwind barely allowing time to unpack.
💸 Dollars and Sense: Career Earnings Tally
Despite the shakeups, Schröder has still raked in over $103 million—a milestone many dream of. But let’s do the math:
- $84M Lakers offer (declined)
- Actual earnings (to date): ~$103M
- New Kings money: $45M
- Total across his career, he’ll still fall short of the Lakers’ originally proposed deal in just 4 years.
Yet at 31, he’s on track to break $150 million by age 34—a dream ride most players can only envy.
📊 What Kings Get: Stats & Role Clarity
Last year, with the Detroit Pistons, he averaged a solid 10.8 PPG and 5.3 APG, helping them reach the playoffs (exiting in Round 1).
In Sacramento, he’s expected to fill the void left by De’Aaron Fox, who moved on to the Spurs—positioning him as a key starting point guard alongside Malik Monk and Zach LaVine.
🎙️ Voices & Reactions
Kings GM, Mark Bartelstein (via Charania/ESPN), finalized a fully-guaranteed two-year deal, with a partially guaranteed third—a smart mid-level exception play.
Schröder himself called the move “a new challenge,” telling the DPA:
“I feel really comfortable with what they talked about… it’s the next step.”
🎯 Two Big Questions: Hits or Regret?
1. Was turning down $84M a monumentally bad call?
In hindsight: absolutely. But Schröder bet on himself—and lived his dream with 12 years, 10K career points, and a $103M+ bank account.
2. Can he revive his legacy in Sacramento?
The Kings haven’t sniffed a playoff series win since 2004, but with Fox gone and Schröder’s swagger intact, he could spark a late-career resurgence.
🏀 Quick Stats Roundup
| Season | Team(s) | PPG | APG | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 | Nets/Warriors/Pistons | 10.8 | 5.3 | Round 1 exit |
| Career | Multiple | 13.9 | 5.4 | $103M+ in earnings, 10K+ points |
😱 Emotional Angle: Regret or Resilience?
This latest chapter is part regret—yes, he passed up tens of millions—but also resilience. Faced with the brutal NBA business (he’s called trades “modern slavery” 😳
he’s persisted through change, injuries, benchings, and front-office chess.
Now, with stability in Sacramento, he’s poised to reclaim center stage.
⏩ What’s Next for “The Menace”?
- Will he secure January’s mid-season mark as a scoring leader or playoff catalyst?
- Can he reinstate the Kings as a legitimate Western Conference contender?
- Will the chorus of “What if?” fade—was it worth betting on himself?
✅ Final Call-to-Action
What do you think? Did Schröder lose or win by passing on the Lakers’ extension? Can he lead the Kings out of their drought? Drop a comment and stay tuned for the Pop Radar exclusive—this rollercoaster isn’t over yet! 👀
