Celtics Sign Former Lakers Starter Dennis Schröder

The Boston Celtics have reached a deal with free agent Dennis Schröder.

The point guard announced the move in a story shared to his verified Instagram account on Tuesday (August 10), which included an edited photo of Schröder wearing a Celtics uniform.

"I'm proud to announced that for the 2021-22 season I'll be playing with the Boston Celtics," Schröderr captioned in the post. "This is one of the best franchises in NBA history and it will be a [sic] honour to put on the green and white and do what I love! I'm going out there every night and leaving it all on the floor for the city!! Who's ready?!"

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports the deal between Schröder and the Celtics will be for the $5.9 million taxpayer midlevel exception, according to sources.

The German guard was the last significant unrestricted free agent available on the market after turning down an extension with the Los Angeles Lakers offered during the regular season reported to be worth $80 million in order to pursue a bigger deal during free agency.

Boston fills a need at point guard after trading Kemba Walker to the Oklahoma City Thunder, which ultimately resulted in a buyout and the Bronx native signing with the New York Knicks.

Schröder was acquired by the Lakers in a trade with the Thunder during the 2020 NBA Draft in exchange for Danny Green and a 2020 first-round pick.

Schröder averaged 15.4 points and 5.8 assists, starting all 61 games he appeared in, but missed 11 days late in the regular season due to the NBA's health and safety protocols.

The guard's absence came after he told a German publication that he and LeBron James were the only Lakers players who didn't receive the COVID-19 vaccine at the time, later telling reporters upon his return, "I'm the only guy that didn't get vaccinated. I'll just leave it at that."

Schröder then averaged 14.3 points, as well as 40% from the field and 30.3% during the Lakers' Western Conference playoff series against the Phoenix Suns, which resulted in Los Angeles being eliminated in six games.

The Lakers quickly filled their need at point guard this offseason, trading for former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook and signing free agent Kendrick Nunn on August 6.