Analyst implies ex-Boston Celtics guard may have regrets over 2022 deadline trade

MassLive's Brian Robb implied that former Boston Celtics guard Dennis Schroder likely has regrets for how his split from the Cs has gone for him considering how close to Banner 18 the team has been since trading Schroder (and Enes Freedom) to the Houston Rockets at the 2022 deadline for Daniel Theis -- and how far away Schroder has been during that time, with his closest call coming in a Western Conference Finals sweep this past postseason to the Los Angeles Lakers.

"Schroder has to be wondering about what could have been in Boston after such a brief stint given the trajectory of the team after his departure," Robb prefaced before saying, "The veteran signed a one-year contract for the mid-level exception in 2021 but was traded in part to make room for new Celtics addition Derrick White along with an opportunity for Payton Pritchard at the 2022 trade deadline. Boston went on to advance to the 2022 NBA Finals and now look like a perennial contender for the foreseeable future.

"Meanwhile, Schroder is stuck behind new trade addition Immanuel Quickley in Toronto on a squad that looks to be closer to a full rebuild than contending."

Boston Celtics could've still landed Derrick White if they kept Dennis Schroder

While Robb implied that the Celtics traded Schroder to make room for Derrick White, the reality of the situation is that they could've still landed the latter from the San Antonio Spurs without making the move for Theis in the frontcourt.

That would've left the team down a spot starter at the 5 in the first few rounds of the 2022 postseason, but Ime Udoka could've pivoted to 3-point heavy small-ball, something he never embraced like Joe Mazzulla does, to compensate.

Schroder ended up on a minimum deal in 2022-23 with the Los Angeles Lakers, so had the Celtics kept him past the deadline, they could've likely retained him in the offseason as well.

Coulda, shoulda, woulda. Schroder is a Toronto Raptor now, and the Cs are on their way to another postseason as the presumptive title favorite; barring something catastrophic between now and June.