Home for Dinwiddie is Los Angeles, where he spent the entire season rehabbing from his ACL tear at Phenom Sports Performance. If Dinwiddie were to join the Lakers or Clippers, it would have to be in a sign-and-trade. Even if Kawhi Leonard were to decline the player option on his contract and leave the Clippers in free agency, the team still would not have the cap space to sign Dinwiddie to a competitive contract.
More on Spencer Dinwiddie Free Agency
Spencer Dinwiddie declined the player option on the final year of his contract and will hit unrestricted free agency on Aug. 6, according to a league source. The deadline to make a decision on the option, worth $12.3 million, was June 20.
Dinwiddie, however, is unlikely to return to the Nets after taking a below-market-value three-year deal worth $34 million. A source told The Daily News the combo guard wants to go home, or “wants the bag.”
“Home is the preferred destination,” the source told The Daily News. “But he wants to secure his financial future, too.”
The Mavericks are another team with interest in Dinwiddie, according to a source, and the Nets guard will be one of the more coveted players in free agency. Dinwiddie’s interest in Dallas or Miami is unclear.
Some executives around the league believe Spencer Dinwiddie will not be back with the Brooklyn Nets next year. Specifically, one executive I mentioned in the recent story said, “Dinwiddie seems like he’s leaving. He’ll have a high salary number. I don’t see him staying regardless. I don’t get the sense he wants to be there.”
I think pretty much the expectation around the league, and Sean Marks publicly talked about it during his press conference that they’re either going to try and re-sign him or do what they can to help him whether that’s getting a trade exception or getting back an asset for him. It’s pretty clear the writing on the wall appears to be that a sign-and-trade is the most likely outcome for Dinwiddie right now.
Shams Charania: Nets free agent Spencer Dinwiddie has been fully cleared for all basketball activities, his operating surgeon Dr. Riley Williams says. Dinwiddie recovered from a partial ACL tear in just over five months. He enters free agency as one of the top point guards on the market.
Adrian Wojnarowski: As expected, Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie plans to decline the $12.3M player option on his 2021-2022 contract and become an unrestricted free agent, sources tell ESPN. He has a Monday deadline. Dinwiddie missed most of the season with an ACL injury.
“I think Spencer will get high teens (annually),” one NBA executive told HoopsHype. “Dinwiddie seems like he’s leaving,” another NBA executive predicted when speaking with HoopsHype. “He’ll have a high salary number. I don’t see him staying regardless. I don’t get the sense he wants to be there.”
“Coming off that injury, I’d be concerned about giving him in the neighborhood of $80 million over four years,” an NBA executive told HoopsHype. “Dinwiddie is worth $14-17 million depending on his health,” another executive said.
To the executive’s point, some around the league believe Dinwiddie wants to be a starting point guard with a larger role as he had during the 2019-20 season when he averaged a career-high 20.6 points and 6.8 assists per game. Even if Dinwiddie wanted to return to the Nets as Irving’s backcourt mate, it would be tough for the Nets to keep him with luxury tax implications in mind.
And the Nets could engage in sign-and-trade talks using Spencer Dinwiddie. Reportedly, the Nets were engaged in talks at the deadline with the Warriors that would have sent the point guard to Golden State for Kelly Oubre and to Los Angeles and the Lakers for Kyle Kuzma. Per Bobby Marks in an ESPN+ analysis Sunday morning... A sign-and-trade deal with a team that doesn’t have significant cap space is an option, but that would require Brooklyn to take back salary in the trade, adding to an already high luxury tax bill. Brooklyn has a projected $53.4 million tax bill and would see that number double if the Nets took back $12 million in salary.
Although he played in only three games, Dinwiddie hasn't suffered any setbacks in his rehab process and is one of the top point guards available in free agency this offseason. Before suffering the injury in late December, he was coming off a 2019-20 where he averaged a career high 20.6 points and 6.8 assists. According to ProFitX, he outplayed his $9.9 million contract in that season by $17 million. Dinwiddie's options could be tied to the futures of Kyle Lowry and Dennis Schroder. If the two players sign with Miami and Chicago for example, Dinwiddie could be staring at the Knicks as the only team that has both cap space and a need at point guard.
If Dinwiddie wants to join an over-the-cap team while earning market value, that would require the Nets to cooperate in a sign-and-trade. This could allow Brooklyn to generate a trade exception and potentially get a veteran, young player, or first-round pick. After having such a great experience together these past five seasons, it would be a nice gesture to participate in good business that allows both sides to achieve their goals.
The Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic all showed interest in Dinwiddie before the trade deadline, sources said. The sign-and-trade possibility will open up a few more doors beyond the teams that can easily clear cap room, too. "I'm a big Dinwiddie fan," said the personnel veteran. "He can be a really good third guard off the bench. And someone's gonna get overpaid…"
The 27-year-old Dinwiddie, who went down with a partially torn ACL in December, is unlikely to agree to an extension, league sources told HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto. He will be among the top point guards available in free agency and could command a similar or better average annual value than the four-year, $85 million contracts signed by Toronto’s Fred VanVleet and Indiana’s Malcolm Brogdon.
He has a $12.3 million player option for next season. Before his injury, he was one of the top players available in our HoopsHype free-agent rankings. Now, executives are split on whether he’ll exercise his player option or become an unrestricted free agent. “I think he’ll opt in now unless it’s really just a partial tear and not a standard ACL recovery,” a fourth Eastern Conferenceexecutive told HoopsHype. “The playoffs go until July. Can he come back in time for June or July? That gives him five or six months, literally. So if it’s that serious where he’s missing five or six months, tough to see him opting out for free agency, but if he can come back and play, then who knows.”
One rival general managertold HoopsHype he expects Dinwiddie to opt out of his contract and hit the market despite his injury. That same sentiment was expressed by a former Western Conferenceexecutive as well. “I don’t think it hurts him overall,” the former Western Conferenceexecutive told HoopsHype. “There are a lot of teams with cap space next summer. If Brooklyn does well without him, they might not want him back if he opts out. The injury probably increases the likelihood he opts in slightly, but I doubt he exercises his player option.”
Raul Barrigon: Michael Scotto: Spencer Dinwiddie is going to opt out, survey the market and be a potential starting point guard. I’d be shocked if he didn't. pic.twitter.com/NHeV0qrPSZ
Scotto: “You’ve got Dinwiddie who’s got a guaranteed deal next year, and then he’s got a $12.3 million player option the year after that. He’s opting out of that, barring any injury. He’s going to opt out of that to try and get more money, survey the market and be a potential starting point guard. I’d be shocked if he didn’t.”
NBA Central: Spencer Dinwiddie’s deactivates his GoFundMe after raising $1,150 pic.twitter.com/Iyl3f2W9sB
Spencer Dinwiddie’s attempt at crowdfunding his free agency hasn’t taken off yet. As of Sunday afternoon, the business-driven Dinwiddie had raised less than $1,000 on his GoFundMe page, well short of the pace necessary to finish with his stated goal of $24,632,630. He opened the page Friday and accumulating $1,000 every two days would require 136 years of fundraising to reach the target.
The second highest donation, as of Sunday afternoon, was $69 from a Nets fan who added the message, “Knicks are Poopiepoopbuttbuttsoup.” So maybe this is not being taken so seriously. Or a kindergartner has disposable income. Only an $88 donation from Charles Nocera was higher than the “Poopiepoopbuttbuttsoup” donor.
If he somehow hits the goal, Dinwiddie says he will allow the fans to determine his next destination and he’ll sign a one-year deal with that team. He’s expected to hit free agency in 2021. If his fundraising falls short, Dinwiddie said he’ll donate all the money to charity. He announced the project with the understanding he probably won’t reach the goal.
Shams Charania: Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie ( @SDinwiddie_25 ) says he will sign a one-year deal with the NBA team fans decide if they reach Bitcoin target of roughly $24,632,630 on a GoFundMe. Dinwiddie’s statement:
What if Dinwiddie decides to opt into the final year of his deal? Dinwiddie is scheduled to earn $12.3 million in 2021-22 if he opts in -- much less than the $20 million in the above scenario -- so the rate of return would be considerably lower, approximately 7.4% annually, or $150,000 plus an additional $35,825.
On Saturday Dinwiddie became eligible for a four-year contract extension worth a maximum of $47.5 million. But despite being the poster child for the Nets’ much-hyped player development (he was a finalist for last season’s NBA Most Improved Player Award), Dinwiddie still does not have an extension. “No news. Nothing to report,” Dinwiddie’s agent, Raymond Brothers, said. “Dec. 8, it came, it’s gone. I don’t have an extension,” said Dinwiddie, 25. “Just let Raymond and [Nets general manager] Sean [Marks] talk about it. I already said what I needed to say.”
One NBA source proclaimed surprise the Nets didn’t offer Dinwiddie an extension, and at least three others suggested he would be worth more in the unrestricted free-agent market next summer, when a number of teams should be flush with cash. So, by all accounts, he is offering the Nets a hometown discount.
And, perhaps most importantly, Dinwiddie’s desire to stay should outweigh the enticing prospect of unknown possibilities. It’s good to put your money on the side of familiarity when you can, especially when everything seems tailored to what your favor. “I would love to have an extension,” Dinwiddie said himself last week. “I would love to be here for a long time. If I don’t get an extension, then I’ll be looking forward to unrestricted free agency.”
“What usually matters in instances like these is ‘What’s the number? What’s the number on the extension that gets it done,’” Woj told Hall and Calamari. “The Nets are limited, limited in he kind of raise he can get off his current contract. It’s all negotiation. Starting next week, they can negotiate, he can sign an extension. But he can do it all the way through the summer. “I think the Nets would very much like to keep him and keep him long term but again, it’s negotiation. It will be at a number --I don’t know what the number is for Brooklyn -- but I’m sure they have in their minds a sense of what they’re willing to do and then how does that measure up to what the other options are, what it does to their cap space, what they want to do with D’Angelo Russell.”
Woj said there certainly will be a market for the 25-year-old if he reaches free agency this summer. “And listen, there certainly are teams this summer that would like a veteran point guard. Phoenix has been trying to trade for one and Orlando’s another who’s veen trying to figure out that position for them long term. Dinwiddie is not a star but he’s showed himself to be a very competent, professional, serious-minded leader. That’s not easy to find.”
Michael Scotto: Spencer Dinwiddie (@SDinwiddie_25) is eligible to sign an extension with the Brooklyn Nets on December 8, which is also the birthday of his grandmother and younger brother and his jersey number. He addressed his contract situation today. Below is his full quote in its entirety. Spencer Dinwiddie on the possibility of an extension of December 8th: "Here's the thing, guys, because I've spoken about this like a lot over the summer and now, and I'm sure I'll have another interview type situation on the day, so I'm hoping this is probably my second to last one (smiles), but this will be my official statement, and I'll repeat this on December 8, 'I would love to have an extension. I would love to be here for a long time. If I don't get an extension, then I'll be looking forward to unrestricted free agency and going through the season and trying to help the Nets win games as much as possible.'
Dinwiddie: "Simultaneously, I know you guys will say that it's an audition for 29 other teams — 28 depending upon how you look at Detroit, maybe 27 depending upon how you look at Chicago (smiles). So, it is what it is. Either I'm going to sign an extension or I'm going to become an unrestricted free agent. It's pretty much as simple as that. The ball is very much in Sean Marks' and the Nets' court. Everybody knows what my extension number is four (years) for $47.5 million. It is well documented. You can't go above. It's not like I'm really looking to go below (smiles and laughs)."
Dinwiddie: "So, hey, it is what it is. You guys will know what it is. I'll find out when you guys find out. We'll either see something on the ESPN ticker that says, 'Spencer Dinwiddie offered $47.5 million from the Brooklyn Nets.' Then you guys will also know exactly how much money my bank account has at that moment in time too. This is all very public information. It's either that or I'm going to be an unrestricted free agent in which case I know you guys will be writing about all summer about whether my low cap hold will apply to Brooklyn or something like that, and in that case stay tuned, Bird Rights, all that good stuff." — Twitter: @MikeAScotto
He prefers staying in Brooklyn to free agency. But even though the deal looks like a bargain for the Nets, it’s certainly no lock they make it. “I’d love to have an extension. I’d love to be here for a long time. If I don’t get an extension, I’ll be looking forward to unrestricted free agency and going through the season trying to help the Nets win games as much as possible,” Dinwiddie said. “Either I’m going to sign an extension or I’m going to be an unrestricted free agent, simple as that. The ball is very much in [general manager] Sean Marks and the Nets’ court. “Everybody knows what my extension number is: Four for $47 ¹/₂ million. … Can’t go above. It’s not like I’m really looking to go below. It is what it is. I’ll find out when you guys find out. We’ll either see something on the ESPN ticker that says ‘Spencer Dinwiddie offered $47 ¹/₂ million from the Brooklyn Nets,’ and then you guys will know how much money my bank account has at that moment in time.”
With guard-needy teams like the Suns and Magic out there, sources told The Post Dinwiddie could command more in free agency. So why wouldn’t the Nets jump to sign him? Dinwiddie currently makes $1.656 million and an extension would put the Nets over the luxury-tax threshold.
On Dec. 8, Dinwiddie is eligible to sign an extension with the Nets. The most lucrative deal Brooklyn can offer is a four-year, $48 million contract, an extension that would have him bypassing unrestricted free agency. “Oh, I mean, I’d love to have one,” Dinwiddie said. “I’d love to be here. This organization has shown me hospitality and given me an opportunity like I haven’t had in the NBA before, so I’m definitely indebted to them, and if they decide to sign me, I’d be one of the happiest players in the league.”
Despite overcoming a career-threatening ACL injury in college, the risk of injury this season isn’t weighing on Dinwiddie’s mind regarding a possible extension and long-term payday. “No, not really,” Dinwiddie said. “If I didn’t want to be here, it would just be a flat out ‘no,’ and I’d tell everybody, ‘Hey, I want to go into unrestricted free agency, and that’s just what it is.’ It really, as it is now, the ball is in their court. I guess I’m always a bridesmaid so far in the NBA. I’m ready to be a bride, I guess.”
Dinwiddie will become eligible for a contract extension Dec. 8, three years after he signed his current deal. But unlike Russell – who could theoretically sign an extension for a max salary – Dinwiddie’s extension is capped at about $47 million over four years. Though it’s possible he could draw more in unrestricted free agency next summer, Dinwiddie – who has only once and only barely exceeded a minimum salary in his career – sounds open to locking in sooner. Not that he expects an offer. “If Sean Marks calls to give me a contract extension, I’ll take it,” Dinwiddie said. “But until he does, I’m looking forward to being a free agent.”
Dinwiddie, on the other hand, said he’s more focused on the court than motivated by his contract situation. “That’s all I can really afford to look at,” Dinwiddie said. “You look at my role – second-round pick, out the league, now back in the league, obviously good season, don’t matter, back on the bench, all that other stuff. So, all I’ve got to do is continue try to help our team win games.”
Complicating matters is the fact that Dinwiddie can’t officially sign that extension until early December, giving the Nets almost two months to assess his fit with Russell and their long-term plans surrounding that pairing. Should Russell show them significant progress toward his ultimate potential, Dinwiddie might find himself closer to the trade block than a building block of the next great Nets team.
The question that looms in the future is how much respect the organization will show next season when he goes from being a bargain at a non-guaranteed $1.65 million to being eligible for an extension that might start at $8 million to $9 million per year. “Man, I would love to be here,” Dinwiddie said. “But I don’t have the opportunity to look ahead. That’s not the way my career has gone. All I can do is keep my head down and keep going. That’s all I can do. But I’d love to be here. They gave me my chance, and I’m forever indebted to Brooklyn.”
After breaking down about Dinwiddie’s performance in the game, Coach Nick asked him about his time with the Nets. Dinwiddie, whose contract runs another two years at the vets minimum, talked about how much he wants to stay in Brooklyn ... and why. “Right now, I have two team options left on my deal, so it looks like I'll be here. Who knows, you never know in this business how anything can happen or how it will all shake out but I've loved my time here and hopefully look forward to being here for a long time. The organization is great. The staff is great and hopefully we can turn this thing around and just make the playoffs next year. That'd be nice.”
With only a team-option for next season, Dinwiddie hopes his work-ethic in practice and play on the court in recent weeks is enough for the Nets to keep him around next season. “I hope I put my best foot forward and proved I belong with the Nets long-term,” Dinwiddie said. “I would love to continue to be here, but business is business. It’s not going to be my decision, it’s going to be their decision. I hope they allow me to stay.”
Michael Gallagher: The Nets announced they have signed Spencer Dinwiddie.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Nets signed D-League guard Spencer Dinwiddie to a partially guaranteed three-year deal, league sources tell @The Vertical.
Jeff Goodman: The Chicago Bulls have released Spencer Dinwiddie, source told ESPN.
Shams Charania: Chicago has waived guard Spencer Dinwiddie, league sources tell The Vertical.
