Halfway through his first season with the Los Angeles Lakers, Dennis Schröder has already proven his worth.

In 33 games, Schröder is averaging 14.9 points and 4.5 assists. The Lakers are 7-7 without Anthony Davis, but 7-3 as long as Schröder is playing.

The most recent of those Ls came against the Sacramento Kings in the first-half finale, but LeBron James, Davis, Marc Gasol, and Alex Caruso didn't play. Schröder dropped a season-high 28 points and nine assists, though he missed a potentially game-winning floater.

The Lakers are 10.2 points per 100 possessions better offensively with Schröder on the court this season — the widest margin on the team for any rotation regular, per NBA.com.

But the stats, especially his defensive metrics, don't nearly capture Schröder's possession-t0-possession impact for the defending champions. The eighth-year veteran is an essential playmaker whose dribble-drives generate looks inside and out, draw fouls, and, critically, ease the ball-handling burden off James.

Over half of his shot attempts this season have come after three dribbles or more, per NBA.com. His proclivity to slice into opposing defenses opens up lanes for L.A.'s clever off-ball cutters like James, Caruso, Kuzma, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

Most importantly, Dennis the Menace has reliably sparked his team with pesky ball pressure and an indefatigable activity level throughout the taxing regular season.

Rob Pelinka’s trade has paid dividends and should continue to do so beyond this season. With that in mind, it's a bit surprising that the organization and Schröder have yet to agree on a contract extension.

So, what gives?

Schröder, who was acquired on Nov. 16, declined the franchise's first offer in December for two years, $33.4 million, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. For all intents and purposes, that was a formality. Due to a CBA provision, a team that acquires a player via offseason trade is limited in what they can initially offer in extension talks. Schröder is making nearly $16 million in 2020-21 — the final year of a $70 million contract — and rightfully believes he deserves a more substantial raise.

After Feb. 16, though, the Lakers became eligible to offer Schröder up to $83.3 million for four years. Or, a two-year extension that would net him $38.7 million. The Lakers should have no qualms about locking him up for four years, as he'll be just 32 in the final season of the deal.

On Christmas, Woj reported that negotiations would probably pick up around mid-February and were not expected to be hostile nor complicated, considering the fair market value figure the Lakers can present (for comparison, the Raptors re-signed Fred VanVleet for $85 million).

Yet, it's March, and there have been no reports of an impending deal.

Before Lakers fans break a sweat: neither side seems too concerned about a long-term partnership. Pelinka reportedly courted the guard as early as 2019, and there's no conceivable reason why he would be unsatisfied by Schröder's performance thus far. Frank Vogel, James, and his teammates have repeatedly lauded the guard's influence on the hardwood and in the locker room.

“He gives us a punch and you make a shot and create a shot when we have a little bit of a drought,” Vogel said. “But what he’s able to do defensively for us every time down the floor whether he’s on the ball or on the weak side. He just has great speed, great defensive tenacity. It really sets the tone for us.”

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Schröder himself just purchased a $4.3 million dream mansion in the L.A. neighborhood of Tarzana. Perhaps even more pertinently, he has flat-out expressed his desire to be a Laker for the foreseeable future on multiple occasions.

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“From the first day, it felt like we have been together for like a month or two,” Schröder reiterated in January. “The chemistry is amazing. That’s the reason why I think I want to be here long-term. But like I said before, it’s always got to be fair on both ends. If it’s fair, then I ain’t got no problem. It’s going to be great to be here long-term, for sure.”

For what it's worth, notice how Kuzma has played since inking his extension in December. As with Dennis, it’s not the box scores that stand out; it's the approach. Kuzma has played like a man eminently comfortable in his situation — personally, professionally, financially. He has unselfishly revised his style of play, pivoting to full-on “winning basketball,” and the Lakers can’t stop singing his praises for his newfound devotion to the unsexy aspects of the game, such as offensive rebounding and defense.

Schröder has the right approach and style, but it’s always possible he could similarly benefit from a plush new deal and the ultimate vote of confidence from the front office. After all: there's still room for improvement.

For instance, he's shooting 31.7 percent from 3 for a team that has been plagued by cold shooting for over a month. A success rate closer to the 38.5 percent mark he shot with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019-20 would be hugely beneficial to the Lakers.

Additionally, the L.A. offense hasn't yet really tapped into his pick-and-roll skills. Plays with Schröder as the pick and roll ball handler have produced just 0.87 points per possession this season, per NBA.com.

The Lakers should lock up Schröder sooner rather than later for fiscal reasons, too. Considering the guard's strong track record in the playoffs, the Lakers can reasonably expect his value to increase between now and July. If no deal is reached before then, the open market could suddenly look more appealing to Schröder.

Surely, the Lakers won't let it get to that point.