Los Angeles Lakers guard Dennis Schröder underwent successful surgery Monday for a right thumb injury, the team announced. He is expected to miss three to four weeks, according to coach Darvin Ham.
Schröder did not travel to the team’s preseason game against the Sacramento Kings on Friday due to the injury. The Lakers did have some worry at the time that it could be a long-term injury, The Athletic’s Shams Charania previously reported.
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Schröder, 29, posted 13.5 points per game, 3.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 64 games played with the Boston Celtics and Houston Rockets in 2021-22. He missed the final seven games of the season because of a shoulder injury.
Schröder was signed to a one-year, $2.64 million deal in September as an additional playmaker and point-of-attack defender to bolster the Lakers’ already crowded guard rotation. He’s essentially Russell Westbrook insurance. His injury is unfortunate, as the Lakers could use his speed and perimeter defense. At the same time, his absence temporarily alleviates Los Angeles’ backcourt logjam, which appears to be the most challenging rotational problem for Ham.
Additionally, with the increasing possibility of coming off the bench as the team’s backup point guard, it’s unclear how much Schröder would’ve played if healthy. He underwhelmed in his preseason stint. If the Lakers trade Westbrook over the next few weeks, they’ll have to rely more on LeBron James, Patrick Beverley, Kendrick Nunn and Austin Reaves as their primary ballhandlers until Schröder returns.
Los Angeles opens the 2022-23 regular season Tuesday night against the Golden State Warriors.
(Photo: Erik Williams / USA Today)
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