Hawks sign Dennis Schroder to 4-year, $70 million extension
The Atlanta Hawks doubled down on their decision to hand point guard Dennis Schroder the keys to the team by signing him to a four-year contract extension on Wednesday.
The extension runs through the 2020-21 season and is reportedly worth $62 million guaranteed, according to ESPN's Marc Stein — bringing the average annual value to a $15.5 million flat rate. Schroder can earn the remaining $8 million through incentives.
"I am excited to sign this long-term deal with the Hawks," Schroder said in a statement. "Since coming from Germany as a rookie, this organization and the entire city of Atlanta has embraced me and watched me grow. I would like to thank my teammates, the coaching staff and the front office for having faith in me.
"I’m determined to keep improving as a player and I believe that our team has a chance to accomplish some special things together."
If the two sides had not reached an extension agreement by Oct. 31, Schroder would have become a restricted free agent after the 2016-17 season.
"Over the past three years, we have watched Dennis grow into an elite competitor and an emerging, two-way player," Hawks president of basketball operations and head coach Mike Budenholzer said in a statement. "We look forward to his continued development and are excited to make this long-term commitment."
The 23-year-old former first-round pick is entering his fourth season with Atlanta, but the previous three were spent backing up longtime starter Jeff Teague. The Hawks moved Teague, who had one season left under contract, in a three-team trade with the Indiana Pacers and Utah Jazz this summer, paving the way for Schroder to step in.
Schroder averaged 11 points and 4.4 assists per game last season, but his decision-making and efficiency have wavered at times in his young career. The franchise has posted an 11-5 record in his 16 career starts.
The extension locks up his age-24 through age-27 season, prime years for a typical NBA player.
"It's amazing that the organization trusts me like that and hands me the keys to the team. It's, like, just amazing," Schroder said at Hawks Media Day. "Now, the whole summer I was just working on my stuff, trying to show the organization that I'm ready for this situation."
Schroder joins Blazers guard C.J. McCollum and Bucks guard/forward Giannis Antetokounmpo as the first players from the 2013 draft class to sign an extension prior to the Oct. 31 deadline.
GLAD TO BE HERE 4 MORE YEARS WITH THE @atlhawks !!!! LOVE THE FANS , PPL , COACHES , ORGANIZATION & MY TEAMMATES !!! ATLANTA IS HOME !!!! ?? pic.twitter.com/JfcoTipO8e
— Dennis Schröder (@DennisMike93) October 26, 2016
