The free agency craze in the NBA is over, and most teams have built their rosters for the 2025-26 season. There are unsigned players remaining on the market, to be sure, but finding an impactful player at this point in the offseason is difficult. With most difference makers now off the market, it's time to take stock of what happened in free agency.
While the Lakers unsurprisingly disappointed their fans with another quiet offseason, they are not alone in making (or not making in LA's case) questionable moves. In fact, their Pacific Division rivals, the Sacramento Kings, may have made a regrettable signing involving one former Laker.
Former Lakers G Dennis Schröder Will Be Overpaid in Sacramento
This summer, the Kings signed former Lakers guard Dennis Schröder to a three-year, $45 million deal. While the German combo guard had a solid second half of the season in Detroit last year, that is a gross overpay for a team that didn't really need another playmaker who needs the ball in his hands.
Schröder is a solid two-way guard who can defend multiple positions while handling the ball and making plays on the other end of the court. He is an improved three-point shooter, but he is still a below-average threat beyond the arc for a guard. This makes him a better on-ball player than off-ball. The Kings already have Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Malik Monk, and Domantas Sabonis, who run the offense. Taking the ball from their hands and giving it to Schröder seems like a bad idea.
Plus, the Kings already have Devin Carter and Keon Ellis, who are two-way combo guards who do similar things to Schröder. Giving a 31-year-old backup $45 million in free agency, considering Sacramento's crowded backcourt, will likely not age well.
Lakers fans are all too familiar with Schröder's inconsistent play. His up-and-down performances throughout the years, including his two Lakers tenures, have caused his annual salary to swing wildly from season to season. While he was a great value deal for the Lakers when he was playing on a $1.8 million salary for the 2022-23 season, Schröder will likely be overpaid on his current contract in Sacramento.