1. Dennis Schroder
Fred VanVleet’s departure left a hole for Schroder in Toronto. The Raptors landed him with a two-year $25.4 million contract, but that was after the Lakers signed Gabe Vincent. There was interest from both sides in Schroder staying in LA, but the team viewed Vincent as a better option (subscription required).
Schroder is averaging 14.2 points, 6.8 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 32.1 minutes per game for the Raptors. He is shooting 35.3 percent from 3-point range and has played in each of Toronto’s 29 games to begin the season. His 930 minutes played are seven times what Vincent has logged with the Lakers already.
The Raptors could be on the verge of a teardown at the trade deadline, and the Lakers should have interest in re-acquiring Dennis Schroder. The 6’1 guard would offer some needed playmaking and offensive punch in Los Angeles. He is comfortable playing off LeBron James and Anthony Davis and could hit the ground running.
Do the Los Angeles Lakers cut bait on Gabe Vincent before the Feb. 8 trade deadline? They will only do so if they can acquire an upgrade. There will be plenty of talent available, so stay tuned to see what the Lakers have in store.