We saw many players take advantage of the paydays that arise within the 2021 free agency period. Guards like Chris Paul, Kyle Lowry, and Lonzo Ball all inked deals north of $80 million in salary. The free agency period isn’t kind to all players, however, and this offseason was no different. There’s only so many spots and cash to earn with a surplus of talent found on every team. This unfortunately leads to some players being left out to dry in some regard. Navigating free agency is daunting and can be very treacherous; which is where ProFitX can come in to help. The advanced AI and formula behind projections allow clear cut unbiased evidence in determining a NBA player’s provided value. Whether it’s a team, agent, or even a player — ProFitX can be extremely helpful in providing a base value. This year saw Dennis Schroder being that player. He made headlines after turning down an $84 million extension deal from the Lakers a few months go; opting to bet on himself and secure an even bigger payday and possibly bigger role. In hindsight, it wasn’t the right move for Schroder and his career. However, it’s important to understand where Schroder was coming from. He plays arguably the most important position in the NBA at point guard, and was coming off of yet another solid season averaging a respectable 15.4 points per game to go along with 5.8 assists per game. In this specific case Schroder chose to bet on himself and his talents. We’ve seen many players do so in the past, with mixed results. It happens more often than most people think. The free agency period was unforgiving this year, with Schroder’s possible fits completely drying up before he could secure a deal. Knowing his value or worth could’ve helped Schorder to secure a fair yet lucrative contract. The New York Knicks, for example, were one of the teams rumored to him throughout the past few months. They quickly pivoted with their cap space to sign Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker with the money that likely would’ve gone to Schroder if both sides reached an agreement. Apart from the mid-level exception and veteran minimum contract; the writing was on the wall. Schroder was going to get nowhere near the $84 million he was offered just a few months ago. ProFitX’s projections had Dennis Schroder’s real-time contract value worth just over $22.4 million last season with the Lakers — which is roughly what he would’ve gotten paid annually with a $84 million extension. Schroder knowing his contractual value would’ve greatly helped him in securing payday, instead of turning it down. There is some silver lining surrounding what some might see as a somewhat grim situation. Schroder agreed to a 1-year deal worth $5.9 million with the Boston Celtics. The money is far from what Schroder likely expected, but he has a chance to redeem himself this season. The Boston Celtics’ guard rotation is completely undefined. While Marcus Smart is a very solid two way player he hasn’t shown a capability of being able to run a NBA offense full time. Schroder, on the other hand, is coming off of a solid campaign where he was the secondary ball handler next to Lebron James. The Celtics need a defined playmaker and Schroder has a chance to showcase that alongside All-Star talent in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. On the team side of things the Celtics got a steal with Schroder. Our projections had his real-time contract value $22.4 million last year with the Lakers. That RTC value isn’t expected to go anywhere but up, either. He’s projected to be a RTC value of $26.7 next season — nearly $20 million above what he’ll earn in salary. Schroder has shown an ability to stay durable too, he’s a reliable player in that regard as well. While Schorder’s offseason situation is far from ideal he can still come away with a decent payday in due time. ProFitX’s projections have him being even more valuable than last season: with a projected real-time contract value of $26.7 million. There is undoubtedly a great fit and opportunity with his new team. While he may have fallen short this offseason there is a chance for him to earn the payday he’s been seeking all along in the long-term. Whether he’s starting or coming off the bench he’ll produce quality numbers for Boston and can redeem his value. Unfortunately for Schroder, this will go down as another example of how important it is for a player to know their contractual value within the league.