Back in February, when the Detroit Pistons acquired veteran point guard Dennis Schröder as part of a labyrinthine trade that orchestrated Jimmy Butler’s escape from Miami to the west coast, it was seen as a shrewd bit of business for a franchise unexpectedly finding itself in the throes of a playoff race, the rapid improvements from the destitution of the Monty Williams era far beyond even the wildest and most optimistic of preseason expectations (I had them 12th in the East).
Schröder brought with him a reputation as a veteran ball handler capable of running an offense and providing a scoring punch when required.