'He's in shock': NBA player burned after $100m contract gamble
The NBA's free agency market can be the source of generational wealth for certain players - for others, one bad decision can alter the trajectory of their whole career.
Dennis Schroder might fall into the latter category, with the point guard signing a one-year, $5.9 million ($A8m) deal with the Boston Celtics after failing to secure the big money contract he was eyeing.
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The Lakers traded key championship starter Danny Green to acquire Schroeder from the Oklahoma City Thunder prior to the 2020/21 season.
While injuries to the likes of LeBron James and Anthony Davis derailed the Lakers' championship aspirations, Schroder played well enough for the team to offer him a four-year contract believed to be worth roughly $84 million ($A114m).
Schreder had other ideas, eyeing a bigger payday in the free agency market, and turned the deal down.
It turned out to be a monumental error from the 27-year-old, who will need to put in a career year this season to attract anything like the offer the Lakers made him when free agency hits next year.
The deal is a boon for the Celtics, who will benefit from a strong starting calibre point guard on a cheaper than expected deal, albeit only for the one year.
Dennis Schröder turning down an $84M offer from the Lakers to later sign with the Celtics for $6M might sound a fact pattern from a player's malpractice lawsuit against a sports agent, but we don't see those kinds of cases. Players ultimately decide what to do, for good or bad. https://t.co/SeiJQrmRJQ
— Michael McCann (@McCannSportsLaw) August 11, 2021
Schroder is a tremendous, offseason salvaging signing for Boston. They needed a third scoring option. Schroder is it, and whether it's as a starter (which Schroder has been) or an elite sixth man (ditto), he will help immediately.
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) August 11, 2021
Dennis schroder is a talented guy, can score in bunches. When he wants to can really defend on the perimeter.
Dude is on the hunt for a payday right now. I don't like it, but he's a Celtic now, so I'm going to pull for him— A Man With No Name (@SnottieDrippen) August 11, 2021
The Boston Herald's Mark Murphy reported from an anonymous source that Schroder had been left somewhat rattled by the turn of events.
“I think he’s in a state of shock because of what he’s done,” Murphy reported.
Schroder, 27, vowed on his Instagram announcement to bring it every night with the Celtics.
“This is one of the best franchises in NBA history and it will be an honor to put on the green and white and do what I love,” Schroder wrote.
“I’m going out there every night and leaving it all on the floor for the city!!”
Brooklyn Nets confirm NBA deal for Patty Mills
The Brooklyn Nets have confirmed they have signed Boomers captain Patty Mills.
While they did not disclose terms, Mills has reportedly inked a two year NBA deal worth $12 million.
Still buzzing from inspiring Australia's Tokyo Olympic bronze medal playoff win, Mills is now preparing to link with the Nets after spending the last 10 seasons with the San Antonio Spurs.
The 12-year NBA veteran averaged 10.8 points on 41.2 per cent shooting (37.5 per cent from three-point range) in 24.8 minutes per game over 68 games (one start) last season, hitting a career-high 161 three-pointers.
Overall Mills - who turns 33 on Wednesday - has appeared in 739 career NBA games, averaging 8.9 points, 1.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists.
The Australian guard was a second-round pick in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers, where he spent two seasons before joining San Antonio.
Mills ranks first in three-pointers made off the bench (1,095) and third in points scored off the bench (5,919) as well as minutes played off the bench (13,007).
His 1,095 three pointers off the bench are the fourth-most in NBA history, trailing only Kyle Korver (1,385), Jamal Crawford (1,259) and Lou Williams (1,198).
He has missed just 12 regular season games over the last six NBA campaigns, appearing in 80 or more games five times in his career.
A regular member of the Boomers since 2007, Mills is coming off an outstanding Tokyo Olympics where he averaged 23.3 points and 6.3 assists.
Saving his best until last, Mills dropped 42 points in Australia's 107-93 bronze medal playoff win over Slovenia as the Boomers secured their first ever men's Olympic basketball medal.
With AAP
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