Dennis Schröder has been traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Charlotte Hornets. It appears to be a cost-cutting measure by Cleveland that could signal that a bigger move is looming. In the meantime, however, it's a deal that brings the former Los Angeles Lakers guard to the doorstep of a unique NBA record.
Once Schröder officially debuts for the Hornets in 2026-27, he will have for played for 12 NBA teams—one shy of the record of 13 that's held by Ish Smith.
Just in: The Cleveland Cavaliers are trading Dennis Schroder and cash to the Charlotte Hornets for Tre Mann, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/MNhjejPxJQ
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 14, 2026
Schröder was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in 2013 at No. 17 overall. He proceeded to play five rather fruitful seasons in Atlanta, making four postseason appearances and even averaging 19.4 points and 6.2 assists per game during his final campaign with the team in 2017-18.
In the eight seasons since, however, Schröder has played for 10 different franchises—including two separate stints with the Lakers.
Schröder has played rather well throughout that time, producing at a high level and making six postseason appearances in fairly prominent roles. In fact, he's played an average of 29.3 minutes per game during that eight-year stretch. Even still, he hasn't been able to set down roots with any team he's played for.
Soon to reach 12 teams in 14 seasons, including 11 over the past nine, Schröder has entered truly bizarre territory that his quality of play fails to explain.
Dennis Schröder traded to 12th team—one shy of NBA record
Schröder's tenures with the Lakers were actually quite solid. He averaged 15.4 points and 5.8 assists per game in 2020-21, playing a crucial role in Los Angeles going 42-30 despite LeBron James missing 27 games and Anthony Davis sitting for 36.
Schröder then returned to the Lakers in 2022-23, averaging 12.6 points and 4.5 assists per game, and helping the team reach the Western Conference Finals.
Unfortunately, his two runs in Los Angeles were the only times he finished a season with the team he started with since 2020. He played for two teams in 2020-21, 2021-22, 2023-24, and 2025-26, and played at least 23 games for three differences franchises in 2024-25.
Schröder has now played for the Hawks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Lakers, Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets, Lakers again, Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Detroit Pistons, Sacramento Kings, and Cavaliers. He'll conceivably play for the Hornets in 2026-27.
To make matters weirder, Schröder has simultaneously become one of the most decorated international players of the 21st century. He led Germany to gold medals at the 2023 FIBA World Cup and 2025 EuroBasket, winning MVP at both events.
Ever the NBA journeyman, however, Schröder is now within a Hornets debut and one more team change of tying Smith for a rather unique record.
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