Lakers News: Dennis Schröder Ditching LA For Lucrative Deal With Play-In Team

Fan favorite guard abandons Los Angeles once again.

Dennis Schröder's second stint with your Los Angeles Lakers has come to a close.

Schröder's agent at Priority Sports, Mark Bartelstein, informs Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN that the 29-year-old point guard is inking a two-year, $26 million deal with the Toronto Raptors. Toronto team president Masai Ujiri opted to quickly replace outgoing starting point guard Fred VanVleet, who inked a bonkers three-year, $130 million contract with the lowly Houston Rockets in the biggest blockbuster of free agency so far.

The 6'3" vet has parlayed a stellar comeback season with Los Angeles into a lucrative new contract and perhaps an expanded opportunity to start in VanVleet's stead.

With the addition of ex-Miami Heat point guard Gabe Vincent to LA on a three-year, $33 million contract, it appeared that either Schröder or starter D'Angelo Russell, both unrestricted free agents this summer, were expendable. Now that Schröder is gone, one wonders what role LA president Rob Pelinka envisions for Vincent, and just how much money he's willing to spend to retain Russell. At 6'4", Russell can play some shooting guard, especially thanks to his efficient, high-volume three-point shooting.

Alternately, if Vincent is the starter at the position going forward and LA lets Russell walk, there are still some intriguing cheap options the team could add on a deal around the veteran's minimum.

Charlotte Hornets reserve Dennis Smith Jr., Chicago Bulls restricted free agent combo guard Ayo Dosunmu, and ex-Lakers vets Russell Westbrook and Patrick Beverley number among the possibly gettable options at or near the minimum.

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