Dennis Schroder, a free-agent point guard, is heading to the Boston Celtics. He announced this Tuesday via his Instagram account.According to sources, the deal will last for one year and will cover the $5.9million taxpayer midlevel exemption.Schroder, who turns 28 this September, was the last significant unrestricted, free agent remaining on the market. To pursue a better deal, he turned down an offer to extend his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, which was worth more than $80 million during the regular season.Schroder is drafted by the Boston Celtics to fill the hole left by Kemba Walker. This will allow him to increase his value next summer when he goes on the market as a free agent."I am proud to announce that I will be playing for the Boston Celtics in the 2021-22 season!" Schroder posted the following Instagram message. Schroder wrote on Instagram, "This franchise is one of my favorite in NBA history. It will be an honor to wear the green and white and do the things I love!" Every night, I'm going to the streets and giving it my all for the city! Are you ready?In a deal with the Thunder, Schroder was traded to the Lakers for Danny Green's first-round draft pick and Danny Green's last-year's NBA draft pick.Schroder was averaging 15.4 points and 5.8 assists over 61 games for the Lakers -- all starts. However, he became embroiled in controversy when he missed 11 days of the regular season due to injury and safety protocol violations. According to a German publication, he claimed that LeBron James and he were the only Lakers players not to have their vaccines. He also stated that he had previously told local reporters that "I'm still the only one that didn't get my vaccine." Let's just leave it at that."In the six games that followed, he averaged 14.3 points and shot only 40% from the field. He also missed 30% from the 3-point line during the Lakers' loss against the Phoenix Suns in round one of the Western Conference playoffs.In his final news conference of the season, ---," Schroder stated that "You have to go through the bulls--- in order to get to the good" during the Suns series.Boston has now signed Schroder as a taxpayer midlevel exception and center Enes Kanter to a one year minimum deal. This puts Boston just over $4 million above the luxury tax line, with 15 guaranteed contracts.After a disappointing season, the Celtics were seventh in the East and lost five games to Brooklyn Nets in round one of the Eastern Conference playoffs. The season was over when Danny Ainge, the long-time president of basketball operations, resigned. Brad Stevens, the longtime coach, took his place. Ime Udoka, the Nets assistant, was hired by the Celtics to take his place.Los Angeles is now facing a huge payroll and luxury tax bill of nearly $200 million, even without Schroder. According to ESPN's Bobby Marks. After trading for Russell Westbrook, Kendrick Nunn was signed to a two year contract worth $10m, Talen Horton Tucker was re-signed to a three-year deal worth $32m, and the remainder of the roster was filled with one-year minimum contracts, including future Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony or Dwight Howard.
