LOS Angeles Lakers are dead serious in their title-retention bid for the upcoming 2020-2021 National Basketball Association (NBA) season as they are close to sealing the services of Dennis Schröder from the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In a report by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Monday, part of the initial agreement was for the Thunder to send Schröder to the Lakers in exchange for three-point specialist Danny Green and the 28th overall pick.
The deal can only be agreed on principle on Monday afternoon (Tuesday in the Philippines) and finalized after the 2020 NBA Rookie Draft on Wednesday.
The Lakers could not complete the deal before the draft day due to league rules restricting teams from trading first-round picks in consecutive years. LA sent its No. 4 pick to New Orleans Pelicans a year ago as part of the Anthony Davis trade.
Schröder, a runner-up for Sixth Man of the Year award in the 2019-2020 NBA Season, will be a quality caliber for the defending champions with Rajon Rondo and Avery Bradley possibly not resigning with the team.
The 27-year-old Schröder, who averaged 18.9 points and 4.0 assists in the 2019-2020 NBA season, has one year and $15.5 million remaining on his contract.
Apart from acquiring Schröder, the Lakers would also reportedly consider signing veteran guard Wesley Matthews, who is expected to decline his $2.7 million player option with the Milwaukee Bucks for the next season and become a free agent.
Meanwhile, Houston Rockets guard James Harden considers moving on to another team amid the uncertainty with his current team, according to a separate report from Wojnarowski.
Citing a source, Wojnarowski said Brooklyn Nets are emerging as the top destination for Harden where he would reunite with Thunder teammates Kevin Durant and former Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni.
Harden has reportedly talked the possible trade request with Durant as the former is “uneasy” with the ability of the Rockets to compete for the NBA crown./PN
