Dennis Schroder has Boosted Detroit's Playoff Aspirations
The Pistons may not have brought in a star at the NBA Trade Deadline, but Dennis Schroder has proven to be a significant addition for one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.
A few short months ago, the Detroit Pistons made a significant decision that altered the course of the franchise’s historic season:
They opted against trading for a star.
Although some had hoped the Pistons would take a big swing at the NBA Trade Deadline in February, first-year President of Basketball Operations Trajan Langdon stayed true to the ideology he professed when he took the job in Detroit this past offseason.
He didn’t trade the likes of Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren, or Isaiah Stewart in a deal to add an all-star level player to pair alongside Cade Cunningham. Opportunities to make such a deal were available.
This past trade deadline saw stars including Luka Doncic, Jimmy Butler, Zach LaVine, and Brandon Ingram all get dealt to new teams.
At some point in time since 2023, the Pistons have been involved in rumors surrounding both LaVine and Ingram. Jimmy Butler was mentioned as a target for Detroit, should the Pistons be willing to risk losing him when his contract expired. Doncic… well nobody was trying to trade for him because why would a content, 25-year old superstar fresh off leading his team to an NBA Finals appearance be available for acquisition?
Instead, Langdon and his front office decided to make a few smaller, marginal moves. After the dust of the deadline had settled, the Pistons came out of it with two new players, sharpshooting wing Lindy Waters and journeyman point guard Dennis Schroder.
These moves followed a pattern, one that Langdon showcased during his first offseason with the organization. Just as he did with Tobias Harris, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Malik Beasley, Langdon prioritized veteran pieces that would bolster a blossoming young core and elevate them into a legitimate NBA team.
Schroder’s impact over the past nearly two months has been loud, just as he is as a player. The Pistons have won 15 of the 22 games he has appeared in.
Schroder has worn a number of hats since joining the team. Initially, he came off the bench as the second unit’s lead guard, replacing Marcus Sasser in said role. Then, he began to spend time sharing the court with Cade Cunningham, playing as a secondary ball-handler and facilitator alongside one of the league’s top young players. Lately, Schroder has been the starting point guard for Detroit — filling in for the injured Cunningham over the team’s last four games.
He has averaged 10.7 points, 5.4 assists, and 2.5 rebounds per game with the Pistons. Schroder has guarded the opposing team’s toughest assignment on a consistent basis and has willingly played the role of a pest on defense — a defense that has statistically been one of the best in the league since the start of the New Year.
Schroder’s skill set and experience elevate a Detroit team poised for the playoffs, with a real chance to host a first-round series. The addition of Schroder makes a playoff matchup with any of Detroit’s likely opponents — Indiana, New York, or Milwaukee — much more palatable than it was prior to his arrival.
This is especially true if Jaden Ivey — who has been out since he suffered a broken fibula against the Orlando Magic on January 1st — is unable to return this season. The Pistons were going to need a guard that could fill his shoes as a secondary ball-handler and play-initiator. Detroit did not have another option on the roster.
Now, there is still hope that Ivey is able to play again this season. He said so himself, but based on the timeline presented by Detroit, a return does not seem possible until the final days of the regular season or perhaps into the start of the playoffs.
With or without Ivey, Schroder will play a significant role for the Pistons throughout the remainder of the regular season and in the team’s first playoff series since 2019.
He may not have been the star many were hoping that Detroit would acquire in February, but Schroder’s impact has been of great importance to the Pistons post All-Star Break surge.