Making Sense of the Raptors' Decision to Trade Dennis Schröder For Nothing

The Toronto Raptors decided it was better to move on without Dennis Schröder and create more salary at the trade deadline

It’s fair to wonder if the Toronto Raptors lose Wednesday’s game to the Charlotte Hornets without Dennis Schröder on the court.

He checked in for Gradey Dick with 6:30 to go in the fourth quarter and scored or assisted on eight of Toronto’s final 17 points. He helped the Raptors offense keep steady alongside Immanuel Quickley in the final minutes, playing the kind of hard-nosed backup point guard role he’s always been known for.

But Thursday’s trade deadline showed that wasn’t what the organization had hoped for.

Toronto wasn’t tanking. Nobody was actively trying to lose. But at this point in the season, the Raptors would rather prioritize development. If someone is going to close out games, let it be the kids.

Now Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković has no choice.

Toronto dealt Schröder and Thad Young to the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday in essentially a salary dump deal to clear his $13 million off the books for next season and free up more playing time for the organization’s young core. In return, the team acquired Spencer Dinwiddie who was promptly waived.

Schröder’s future with the organization became precarious the moment he was moved to the bench earlier this season.

The 30-year-old point guard signed in Toronto this past summer because he thought he’d be the team’s starting point guard. For a while, he was. But Toronto’s lackluster record through the first 29 games of the year forced a change and that meant moving Schröder to the bench.

Schröder tried to be a good soldier, but it was clear he saw himself as more than what Toronto wanted him to be.

For the Raptors, moving Schröder creates some flexibility.

In the unlikely event they decline Bruce Brown’s option, Toronto has a path to cap space this summer. Otherwise, moving Schröder frees up some room below the luxury tax threshold and gave Toronto a no-cost mulligan with their mid-level exception this summer.

“It was just the optionality of going into this summer with reduced commitments,” Raptors general manager Bobby Webster said of the deal. “I don't think there was anything specifically in mind like, hey, we're doing this or we're doing that, as opposed to let's see what our books look like with $13 million or so off the off the books.”

The move leaves Toronto a little thin at backup point guard now but nobody is going to be too upset with that. Scottie Barnes can take on more of a playmaking role with the second unit and there should be enough passing between Brown and the recently acquired Kelly Olynyk to help Toronto’s second unit make do.

And worst case, the Raptors are a little worse off without Schröder. Maybe that’s OK too.