The Oklahoma City Thunder has been starved for a backup point guard for years. Last year, Thunder fans were so desperate for a competent backup point guard that Raymond Felton was accepted as an upgrade. Dealing with Semaj Christon for 82 games will make you accept some crazy things, including Felton as a worthy backup point guard.

In the offseason, Sam Presti acquired Dennis Schroder from the Atlanta Hawks to backup Russell Westbrook. People had one of two reactions to the deal.

Thunder fans, and the majority of experts, looked at the trade as a big win for the team. They got rid of Carmelo Anthony and received a valuable asset in return. Waive and Stretch wasn’t going to get buckets, although it may provide better defense. Melo was addition by subtraction and Schroder was just a flat addition.

Hawks fans, and the minority of experts, looked at Schroder’s contract – $15.5 million a year for the next three years – and thought the trade was a big mistake. Schroder looked lifeless last season and his play dropped off a cliff as he was given more responsibility.

The murmurs out of Atlanta was that Schroder was not a No. 1 option and that he couldn’t lead a team. He was never going to be put in a leadership and top option position this season. At best, he would be the third perimeter option and fourth option overall.

Personally, I loved the moved as I looked at Schroder for what he was in 2016-17 as the second or third option. That year, he averaged 17.9 points-per-game while shooting 34 percent from deep and 39 percent on catch-and-shoot threes. To me, Schroder could not only keep up the torrid offensive pace that Russell Westbrook sets when Westbrook went to the bench, but he could also play alongside Westbrook as a floor spacer.

Through 19 games this season, the 25-year-old guard is averaging 17.3 points on 36 percent shooting from 3 and 43.4 percent on catch-and-shoot attempts.

Schroder’s role has fluctuated all season due to the various injuries to Oklahoma City guards. He has started at point guard in place of Westbrook for eight games. He has started at shooting guard due to injuries to Andre Roberson, Terrance Ferguson, and Hamidou Dliallo.

The idea was to play Westbrook and Schroder together, giving OKC an extra ball-handler and creator to take pressure off Westbrook and George. In 123 minutes together, the three-man lineup of Westbrook/George/Schroder has a +13.9 net rating.

The outside shooting of Schroder is a big reason why.

It’s no secret that the Thunder want to run in transition. They were fourth in fast break points last season. Westbrook always looks to push the pace, sometimes to his own detriment. When Westbrook drives, defenses collapse. Having a reliable shooter, either as a trail option or corner runner, opens things up in a big way.

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With Westbrook off the floor last season, the Thunder offense went into the tank. They had an offensive rating of 111.7 with him on the floor and a 97.4 rating with him off the floor. This year, with Schroder on and Westbrook off, the team has a 106 offensive rating.

And that’s because when Westbrook sits, there’s less of this:

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And more of this:

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Schroder’s ability to get to the rim and create his own offense is luxury the Thunder haven’t had off the bench since the days of Reggie Jackson. There is some bad news. He’s finishing at the rim well below his career average — 49 percent this season, 55 percent for his career — but the hope is that number comes up as he grows more comfortable in the system. He has looked unsure of himself at times, but that’s an issue that has plagued the entire Thunder team, especially Westbrook, early in the season.

As good as Waive and Stretch may have been, it’s hard to imagine that he would have been this good.

All stats courtesy of NBA.com

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