Dennis Schroder knew a trade was coming.
The point guard spoke to new coach Lloyd Pierce and others upon his return to Atlanta for offseason workouts. He watched a month later as the team selected Trae Young in the first round of the draft. He knew the organization was in rebuild mode, destined not to be a consistent winner for several years.
The key moment may have come when Schroder spoke to Thunder head coach Billy Donovan before a three-team trade was finalized.
“I wanted to find a different situation,” Schroder said Tuesday morning before his first trip back to Atlanta as a visitor.