Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti completed another move today by sending point guard Dennis Schroder to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Darren Collison and the right to swap first round picks in 2020.
The German was acquired by the Thunder back less than three months ago in the trade that saw Carmelo Anthony leave.
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For the Pacers, this move seems to be an attempt to save their season. They currently sit second-to-bottom in the Eastern conference with a 10-18 record, but are crucially only 3 games behind 8th placed Washington.
They have severely lacked creativity at the offensive end this season and adding Schroder could help solve that problem. Darren Collison was their leading playmaker and he was only averaging six assists per game.
Head coach Nate McMillan will be happy to have some more offensive firepower to help out Victor Oladipo. The 2018 all-star is the only Pacer averaging over 15 points per game currently.
Although there is always a risk involved with trading future draft picks, the Pacers will be aiming to be a strong playoff team next season, so the gap between themselves and the Thunder in the first round could be minimal.
It's a calculated risk. At best they are only giving up an expiring veteran and a few spots in the draft order. At worst, this will cost them a high lottery pick.
On paper they should be a playoff team with a solid core of Victor Oladipo, Myles Turner, Domantas Sabonis, Dennis Schroder, Tyreke Evans, Thaddeus Young and Bojan Bogdanovic. The latter three are on expiring contracts, but that just means that Indiana could have around $40 million to use in free agency next season.
Maybe they will lure Kawhi Leonard back and correct the mistake they made on draft night in 2011.
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Oklahoma City agreed to this trade mainly for financial reasons. Schroder is due another $46.5 million over the next three years, whilst Collison is on an expiring contract. Moving Schroder will make a sizeable difference to the Thunder's future luxury tax penalties.
With their star trio of Russell Westbrook, Paul George and Steven Adams earning a combined $90.4 million this season, $97.4 million in 2019-20 and $104.3 million in 2020-21, the Thunder are locked-in to having one of the highest salary totals in the league.
Although Collison was acquired mainly due to his expiring contract, he will still be a useful piece off the bench for Oklahoma City. They will be more than happy if he can continue averaging 9 points and 6 assists per game for the rest of the season.
It's funny how life works. Back in college at UCLA Collison was the starting point guard and Russell Westbrook was his backup. Now the roles are reversed and Westbrook is a star of the league.
Swapping first rounders with the Pacers next season could possibly land Oklahoma City a lottery pick, which is something they have only had twice since drafting James Harden with pick 3 in 2009.
And whilst the likes of Hamidou Diallo and Terrance Ferguson look promising, the Thunder could really do with a top-end young prospect to take over once Westbrook eventually retires.
The Thunder currently sit in third place in the Western conference with a 20-6 record. Golden State lead the way, just 2.5 games ahead of Oklahoma City.
Indiana receive
Dennis Schroder - 25 - PG - $46.5m - 3 years (80)
Projected line-up:
Myles Turner - Domantas Sabonis - Bojan Bogdanovic - Victor Oladipo - Dennis Schroder
Reserves:
Thaddeus Young, Tyreke Evans, Kyle O'Quinn, Cory Joseph, Doug McDermott, TJ Leaf, Aaron Holiday, Alize Johnson, Davon Reed, Edmond Sumner, Ike Anigbogu
Oklahoma City receive
Darren Collison - 31 - PG - $10m - 1 year (77)
Right to swap for higher 2020 first round pick
Projected line-up:
Steven Adams - Jerami Grant - Paul George - Andre Roberson - Russell Westbrook
Reserves:
Nerlens Noel, Darren Collison, Raymond Felton, Patrick Patterson, Deyonta Davis, Alex Abrines, Hamidou Diallo, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Terrance Ferguson, Deonte Burton, Abdel Nader
cavs4872 wrote:Interesting deal... hope it pans out!
Andrew wrote:He definitely seems expendable, especially with that contract.
DEN | 25 | 16 | 20 | 41 | 102 |
OKC | 33 | 23 | 28 | 43 | 127 |
Player of the Game: Russell Westbrook
(19pts, 9reb, 17ast, 2stl)
(8-14 FG, 1-1 3PT, 2-3 FT)
Simmed Game
OKC | 37 | 33 | 28 | 26 | 124 |
LAC | 15 | 20 | 27 | 26 | 188 |
POTG: Russell Westbrook (26pts, 7reb, 8ast, 2stl)
Record: 22-6
OKC | 42 | 27 | 38 | 31 | 138 |
CHI | 24 | 28 | 25 | 38 | 115 |
Player of the Game: Russell Westbrook
(31pts, 12reb, 20ast, 11stl, 1blk)
(14-17 FG, 3-7 FT)
Simmed Game
SAC | 24 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 94 |
OKC | 23 | 33 | 16 | 26 | 98 |
POTG: Russell Westbrook (26pts, 7reb, 6ast, 5stl)
Record: 24-6
Andrew wrote:Man, those Nuggets are definitely falling short of their real life counterparts! You're rolling, though.
Andrew wrote:Awesome effort to get the quadruple-double! I wonder if the real Westbrook will achieve that at some point.
UTA | 32 | 15 | 19 | 23 | 89 |
OKC | 24 | 31 | 18 | 23 | 96 |
Player of the Game: Steven Adams
(21pts, 10reb, 1ast, 1stl)
(9-13 FG, 3-6 FT)
Simmed Game
OKC | 28 | 28 | 36 | 24 | 116 |
MIN | 17 | 28 | 26 | 34 | 105 |
POTG: Russell Westbrook (25pts, 7reb, 6ast, 1stl)
Record: 26-6
HOU | 36 | 25 | 28 | 39 | 128 |
OKC | 31 | 33 | 27 | 36 | 127 |
Player of the Game: Russell Westbrook
(25pts, 11reb, 19ast, 3stl, 1blk)
(8-12 FG, 1-1 3PT, 8-12 FT)
Simmed Game
PHX | 22 | 21 | 16 | 25 | 184 |
OKC | 22 | 28 | 31 | 27 | 108 |
POTG: Paul George (21pts, 6reb, 6ast, 2stl)
Record: 27-7
Andrew wrote:Always fun when someone else steps up to be the hero.
cavs4872 wrote:Love that pic of George gliding through the air - super fun player to use, like T-Mac. You picked a fun team.
DAL | 24 | 27 | 18 | 29 | 198 |
OKC | 29 | 30 | 34 | 37 | 130 |
Player of the Game: Steven Adams
(26pts, 14reb, 3ast, 2stl, 2blk)
(13-19 FG)
Simmed Game
OKC | 32 | 22 | 35 | 37 | 126 |
DAL | 28 | 18 | 24 | 34 | 104 |
POTG: Russell Westbrook (33pts, 10reb, 7ast, 2stl)
Record: 29-7
tacitus kilgore wrote:Your format is aesthetic man, really easy to follow this story. Tough loss though that one would make me want to punch a wall lmao.
Transactions
13/12/18 - Indiana received Dennis Schroder
13/12/18 - Oklahoma City received Darren Collison, Right to swap for better first round pick in 2020 with Pacers
27/12/18 - Orlando fired head coach Steve Clifford. Hired Michael Stauffer to replace him.
LAL | 24 | 34 | 24 | 30 | 112 |
OKC | 19 | 39 | 25 | 42 | 125 |
Player of the Game: Russell Westbrook
(31pts, 9reb, 9ast, 3stl)
(12-16 FG, 7-11 FT)
Simmed Game
POR | 42 | 19 | 22 | 26 | 109 |
OKC | 37 | 25 | 28 | 20 | 110 |
POTG: Russell Westbrook (36pts, 5reb, 6ast, 3stl)
Record: 31-7
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