Dennis Schroder sure sounds like he’ll be Raptors’ starting point guard

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We might have to cool our jets on all that talk about Scottie Barnes taking over at point guard.

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Listening to recently signed free-agent point guard Dennis Schroder, there seems to be a real comfort level between him and new head coach Darko Rajakovic, which could well mean Schroder is the Raptors’ starting point guard next season.

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In fact, it was Rajakovic’s presence in Toronto that prompted Schroder to leave a pretty good situation in Los Angeles with the Lakers and sign with Toronto.

“I mean Darko, head coach, plays a big part of it,” the 10-year veteran said Wednesday on a conference call from Las Vegas, where he was introducing himself to his new team. “I think the day of free agency he called me and he said, ‘I’m a head coach now,’ and I know how he operates. I’ve been with him in OKC, he’s a great guy, European and I think the situation as well (in Toronto) played a role. Having young guys, having a couple of veterans, I think we can compete and I’m just there to lead the team and try to make sure the young guys get better and compete at the highest level. So, I’m excited and looking forward to it.”

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On one occasion during the conference call, Schroder referred to himself as the starting point guard. Asked if that had actually been communicated to him either by Rajakovic or someone in the front office, Schroder chose not to answer directly, saying he is capable of doing whatever the team asks of him.

But there was no confusing the fact that Schroder and Rajakovic, who spent two years together in Oklahoma City when Rajakovic was an assistant coach, share a lot of the same principles when it comes to bringing out the best in a team.

“He keeps everyone accountable,” Schroder said of his new head coach. “That’s the first thing for me as a coach: You have to keep everyone accountable and keep everyone in the locker-room together. He’s doing that. No matter how hard it is, he’s going to tell you if you did something wrong or something good, he’s going to tell you straight and direct and I appreciate that. As a player, I’m the same way.”

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But Schroder wasn’t done and this is where the conversation got really interesting.

“Great dad, husband and family guy and he was an assistant coach back then, but he basically did everything like he was the head coach,” Schroder said. “I did a lot of individual workouts with him and watched a lot of film with him. He’s such a great guy. I’m looking forward to him being a head coach and me the starting point guard, try to get to our goals.”

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If Schroder does turn out to be the Raptors’ starting point guard, something he did for the Lakers for 50 games last season, that pretty much ends any talk of Gary Trent Jr., or even rookie Gradey Dick in the starting five.

Again, assuming no big moves are made between now and training camp, a big assumption admittedly given all of the chatter going on regarding Pascal Siakam’s future with the club, a starting five with Schroder at the point as things stand could really only go one way with Barnes, O.G. Anunoby, Siakam and Jakob Poeltl joining him.

But whether he starts or not, Schroder doesn’t believe his overall role changes much. First and foremost, he’s been brought here to provide a veteran presence and help this young team take the next step.

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“At the end of the day, it’s leading the team, which is what a point guard should do,” Schroder said of his ultimate role with the Raptors. “Lead a team, be a role model for those young guys. I’ve got 10 years under my belt now and I’m really proud of it. You can’t take that for granted.

“For me, it’s just helping the young guys, helping my teammates and competing at the highest level and show them the way. I had a lot of great veterans with Al Horford, Kyle Korver, Jeff Teague, DeMarre Carroll, Lou Williams — a lot of people who took care of me and I’m going to try to do the same thing, be there for my team, be there for Darko on the court, but off the court, as well.”

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Schroder arrived Monday in Las Vegas and met the coaching staff and the front office. He worked out with the assistant coaches and got to know them. He reconnected with Rajakovic for breakfast on Tuesday and crossed paths with Anunoby and Chris Boucher, two of the more veteran players on the roster.

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Schroder and Anunoby had a previous run-in as opponents they had to “squash.” It was over an incident last season when the former was accused of flopping by the latter. Schroder confirmed the two hashed it out and it’s all good now.

Schroder, though, has a busy summer ahead of him. A regular on the German national team, he’ll be running the offence for Gord Herbert’s squad at this summer’s FIBA World Cup.

Schroder takes his national team duties seriously and it should be a nice tuneup for his new duties with the Raptors, whether that’s starting, coming off the bench or whatever role the team asks of him.

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