Even though they have the superstar trio of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden, the Brooklyn Nets are still trying to add some pieces in order to compete, as proven by the signing of Blake Griffin. If Sean Marks wants to make another trade, the only piece who could conceivably be moved is injured guard Spencer Dinwiddie.
Dinwiddie has played in just three games this season due to a torn ACL, and the versatile guard/swingman combo might not fit into Brooklyn’s future plans. This has helped kicked the rumor mill into high gear.
The Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons, and Toronto Raptors have all extended out feelers for Dinwiddie. However, according to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the Nets might find it hard to deal Dinwiddie and get an adequate return.
In a Twitter Spaces discussion, Wojnarowski hinted that the Nets might be unwilling to take on any extra salary by trading Dinwiddie, who could be a free agent at the end of this season if he declines his eight-figure player option. The Nets have a ton of money tied up in their three superstars, and Dinwiddie’s salary could weigh on them in free agency.
Woj: Nets not interested in taking on extra salary next year in a Spencer Dinwiddie trade, adds @moe_harkless to buyout candidates. https://t.co/mdQutRMPAs pic.twitter.com/pb47lm3HUi
— NetsDaily (@NetsDaily) March 23, 2021
Spencer Dinwiddie might be too tough to trade for the Brooklyn Nets.
When healthy, Dinwiddie is one of the more intriguing guards in the league. At 6-6, he can rise up from 3-point range, defend multiple positions, and finish shots at the rim despite sustaining contact. Unfortunately, Dinwiddie, who has proven himself as a 20-per-game scorer in this league, has too many question marks surrounding him.
While whomever trades for the star guard could offer him a multi-year extension by virtue of owning his Bird rights, Dinwiddie is a very risky long-term investment, as his health problems and contract situation could be too much to overcome.
Dinwiddie has a $12.3 million player option, and prospective buyers could be turned off by that since he could easily decline it. Furthermore, the Nets might not be interested in someone that could weigh heavily on the books next year, further restricting suitors without a ton of financial flexibility in the first place.
The Nets will either try to assimilate Dinwiddie back into the rotation next year, eat a low value return, or simply thank him for his services and go a different, likely cheaper, direction. Trading someone with an eight-figure salary and a recent ACL injury is by no means an easy feat, so Marks shouldn’t beat himself up if he fails to make it happen.
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