Trade candidates to replace Rubio using Disabled Player Exception

Trade candidates to replace Ricky Rubio: Dennis Schroder

Prior to last season the Los Angeles Lakers gave up a valuable two-way wing in Danny Green and a first-round pick to bring in Dennis Schroder as their starting point guard. Schroder was a decent defender but terrible offensive fit alongside LeBron James, and he was not re-signed as the team traded for Russell Westbrook instead.

The market dried up fast, and Schroder was forced to sign a one-year contract at the taxpayer midlevel exception with the Boston Celtics, worth just $5.9 million — a far cry from the $20 million per season he was in line to get at one point. Schroder has been fine on the Celtics, but he is unlikely to be re-signed this summer and the Celtics haven’t exactly been killing it with him around.

Would a second-round pick work straight-up for Schroder? Perhaps the Celtics, who have found success plucking players from Europe in the past, would like Kevin Pangos in return as a reserve point guard. Sending out a small amount of salary could allow the Cavs to add Schroder and still stay under the luxury tax line.

Schroder is a tough defender with a good handle. He isn’t a plus passer but he can do enough to run the offense, ideally alongside another reasonable creator. He has enough size to play at the 2, and he and Garland together is a pairing that makes a good amount of sense. This summer the Cavs could bring him back given Rubio’s expected recovery window, or they could sign-and-trade him to another team, perhaps in exchange for a wing.