NBA free agency is generally regarded as a beneficial opportunity for players to secure their worth in the market. However, Golden State Warriors guard Dennis Schroder recently expressed a contrasting, more pessimistic perspective on the concept. Schroder, who has enjoyed an impressive 11-year career in the NBA and has earned over $100 million, is currently on an expiring contract. He finds himself in the last year of a two-year $25.4 million deal he signed with the Toronto Raptors before being traded to Golden State.
Having established himself as a starter for the Warriors, Schroder should have no trouble finding a role in the league next season. Nonetheless, in a discussion with Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area, he conveyed his disillusionment with the free agency process, likening it to “modern slavery” because so many decisions are beyond the players’ control. “It’s like modern slavery,” Schröder stated. “Everybody can decide where you’re going, even if you have a contract. Sure, we make a lot of money and can support our families, but ultimately, if they say, ‘You’re not coming to work tomorrow, you’re going over there,’ they can decide that. They need to change that a little bit.”
Despite these feelings, Schroder acknowledged his gratitude for his situation, saying, “I think everybody who’s in here is blessed. But if you really think about it, it is kind of crazy that the organization can tell you, ‘We want you to be team-first, but you’re going over there.’ It’s a lot.” On one hand, players are often at the mercy of NBA owners during free agency; recent trades, such as the Mavericks-Lakers move, illustrate that even elite players are not exempt from such unpredictabilities. However, drawing parallels between the privilege of playing in the NBA, despite its inherent challenges, and the tragic history of slavery can be seen as somewhat irresponsible.
No matter his sentiments regarding the free agency process, it will remain a reality for Schroder following the 2024-25 season unless an extension with the Warriors is reached before the season concludes.
