As the Houston Rockets prepare to take on the Utah Jazz on Monday at Vivint Smart Arena, they will get a chance to see two players that may impact their season heading into the All-Star break and beyond.
Newly acquired guard Dennis Schröder and center Bruno Fernando participated in an early morning shootaround with the team in Salt Lake City as they try to get acclimated with their new teammates and get a feel for the offensive and defensive sets utilized by the Rockets.
“He will get minutes off the bench and get incorporated into what we do,” Rockets head coach Stephen Silas said when asked about playing time for Schröder versus the Jazz. “It is a chance for him to try and get to learn his teammates and will give us a chance to get to learn him.”
Schröder, 28, has been a very reliable and stable point guard over the last nine seasons in the NBA. Seven of those seasons were spent playing in the postseason. Before being traded from the Boston Celtics along with Fernando, and Enes Freedom (who was waived by the Rockets), he averaged 14.4 points and 4.2 assists per game.
“I was surprised,” Schröder said when he found out he was being traded to Houston. “I talked to the front office and found out it was last minute. I am happy to be here now, but I was surprised a little bit. Now I want to lead the way with the young guys and get as many wins as we can.”
Rockets guard Dennis Schröder says his responsibility is to help develop the young Rockets backcourt. #Rockets #LightTheFuse #Sarge pic.twitter.com/5gm8cAp1zY
— BIG SARGE MEDIA LLC (@BigSargeSportz) February 14, 2022
The acquisition of a point guard that can stabilize a sometimes-erratic offense due to the lack of experience of a young Rockets team is precisely what Silas and general manager Rafael Stone saw when they decided to trade for Schröder. His veteran leadership will help the young core of guards in Kevin Porter Jr., Jalen Green, and Josh Christopher.
“I see they are working, and I am just here to lead the way a little bit and show them what is important and help them win games,” Schröder said following Monday morning’s shoot-around.
Houston begins a three-game road trip in Utah before playing back-to-back games against the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers to conclude the pre-All-Star portion of their 2021-22 season.
