Here's How Much Money Dennis Schroder Has Made Since Turning Down $84 Million

The Cleveland Cavaliers have just traded for Dennis Schroder, one of the NBA's best examples of when betting on yourself goes wrong. In March of 2021, Schroder reportedly turned down a four-year, $84 million contract extension from the Los Angeles Lakers. He was in his fifth straight season of averaging at least 15 points and 4 assists per game, and he seemed to be developing a solid three-point shot, as well.

You could sort of understand Schroder's position. He was finishing up a four-year, $70 million contract he had signed while with the Atlanta Hawks. His numbers had largely stayed about the same or improved during the length of that deal, so he was expecting a healthy pay raise as he entered free agency.

Unfortunately for Schroder, the point guard market dried up before a team signed him. It didn't help that his scoring, field goal percentage, and three-point percentage all dropped while in L.A. compared to his previous stop in Oklahoma City, despite starting for the Lakers and coming off the bench for the Thunder. Though Schroder's splits were more in line with his career numbers, perhaps teams felt a decline was on the way.

Schroder ultimately settled for a one-year, $5.89 million with the Boston Celtics, the taxpayer midlevel exception. Since turning down that Lakers deal, Schroder has bounced around nine different NBA teams. Here's how much he's earned over that span.

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Schroder didn't even make it through the season with the Celtics, getting traded to the Houston Rockets after 49 games. The Rockets let him walk in free agency, and coincidentally, Schroder ended up back on the Lakers. However, he only signed for the veteran minimum of about $2.64 million.

He played well enough in L.A. to earn a two-year offer from the Toronto Raptors before the 2023-24 season. That deal was worth a little more than $25.4 million, though Schroder once again did not make it through a full season with the team that signed him. Toronto sent Schroder to the Brooklyn Nets after 51 games.

The next season, Schroder got traded twice. He played 23 games for the Nets, 24 games for the Golden State Warriors, and 28 games for the Detroit Pistons. After winning the franchise's first playoff games since 2008, the Pistons signed Schroder to a three-year extension worth $44.4 million over three years, but then immediately traded him to the Sacramento Kings.

And wouldn't you know it, Schroder once again did not make it through a full season with the same team after signing a new contract. Schroder played 40 games before the Kings shipped him off to the Cavs in a three-team deal.

Phew, that's a lot. Let's recap the math:

• 2021: 1 year, $5.89 million
• 2022: 1 year, $2.64 million
• 2023: 2 years, $25.43 million
• 2025: 3 years, $44.44 million
• Total: $78.4 million

The next time Schroder is a free agent, he'll be 35 years old, which is typically the twilight years of an NBA career. And over those seven years, he'll have made $5.6 million less than if he agreed to the original Lakers deal in 2021. Assuming he kept playing at the same level, he probably would be in the midst of another long-term contract right now worth between $40 and $60 million, so he's likely lost even more money.

That's not to say Schroder still hasn't had a lucrative NBA career. He's made about $117.1 million since he entered the league in 2013, and he'll still earn more than $30 million over the next two seasons.

This latest trade could even be a blessing for him. This year has been a lost season for the Kings, and Schroder was a minus player on a hefty contract for the team. Maybe a change of scenery and a more competitive roster in Cleveland can help him right the ship. Either way, Schroder still hasn't equaled what he turned down five years ago, and that's got to sting.