The city of Dallas is still fascinated with Cooper Flagg becoming a Dallas Maverick in just over a month. Mavs fans have been dealing with a roller coaster of emotions over the past months as they dealt with Luka Doncic being traded and Kyrie Irving recovering from an ACL tear. However, winning the draft lottery and adding Flagg might have changed things.
For starters, Flagg is a generational talent who can have an immediate impact. He is the one player who can make any team an immediate title contender. Flagg's two-way talents are undeniable, as he can easily win over Nico Harrison. Harrison has hinted at wanting someone who plays well on both ends of the court. So, adding Flagg would be the perfect ingredient to Harrison's future plans.
Yet, adding Flagg might be the beginning of the Mavs' offseason. It's clear Dallas' frontcourt position is set, but what about the backcourt?
ESPN Insider Shams Charania reported on Wednesday that Dallas is expected to pursue a point guard to make up for Irving's absence over the first few months of the season. This makes sense, as the Mavs desperately need someone to run the offense with Irving on the sidelines.
Signing Dennis Schroder must be an offseason priority for Mavericks
One option Dallas should consider is Dennis Schroder. The long-term NBA veteran could be the perfect candidate to hold the fort until Irving returns.
One former Maverick even suggested to The Smoking Cuban's Noah Weber that Schroder could be the ideal man to run things, while Brandon Williams comes off the bench and continues to learn. 75.1 percent of Mavs fans even suggested they would love to have Schroder as the team's point guard, according to Weber's poll.
So why did a former Mav suggest Schroder? What makes the veteran guard unique? Could he help Dallas remain competitive until Irving returns?
Well, let's break it down.
Schroder is an NBA veteran who has been in the league since 2013. He has played for multiple teams, including the Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, and many more. His basketball pedigree speaks for itself, as he can do a variety of things on the floor.
For example, Schroder is a streaky fast guard who can create many opportunities for himself and others. He can use his speed and quick step to get past his opponents while driving to the basket. On the other hand, Schroder is also not afraid to shoot the ball from various angles. He can get hot from deep, as he converted 41.2 percent of his 3-pointers during the 2023-24 season over his 29 games with the Brooklyn Nets. The biggest thing is Schroder's ability to use his high IQ to find his open teammates and help create easy buckets.
For example, he helped Germany win their first FIBA Basketball World Cup two years ago, and averaged 17.9 points per game and 6.7 assists per game during the tournament. Last season, he averaged 10.8 points per game with the Detroit Pistons while leading their second unit. His veteran leadership helped mentor the young players and develop positive team chemistry.
Defensively, Schroder is a pest. He can irritate players from all ends of the court. His quick hands and fast feet allow him to disrupt shooters and ball handlers while forcing them into difficult situations. In simple terms, Schroder is the player you don't want guarding your star guard. For example, he averaged two or more steals during a four-game stretch in the NBA postseason. He tallied three steals in a pivotal Game 4 loss against the New York Knicks, and he doesn't shy away from big moments.
So, it's clear he has all the intangible qualities Nico Harrison seeks. Plus, he could mentor Williams until Irving returns. Not to mention, signing Schroder wouldn't break the bank. He tallied around $13,000 last season with the Pistons. His salary could dip this offseason, as he has underperformed some over the past couple of years. It's possible the Mavs could sign him on a cheap deal, as they'll likely only have veteran minimum deals to use. Getting Schroder would be a steal.
Schroder would also be surrounded by talent if he signed with the Mavs, especially since Cooper Flagg is expected to come to town. His talents and skill set would be put to good use by bigs like Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, and Anthony Davis.
