The Nets are working the phones to trade Dinwiddie, who is poised to become a free agent by declining his $12.3 million player option for next season because he is expected to have numerous suitors in spite of his knee injury. Trading Dinwiddie now is the surest way for the Nets to fortify their roster yet again before the playoffs and protect themselves from losing him for nothing in the off-season.
More on Spencer Dinwiddie Trade?
The Brooklyn Nets are searching for more bench help. Sources tell Yahoo Sports they’ve dangled the rehabbing Spencer Dinwiddie and a second-round pick. Miami is an intriguing option, according to sources — Mo Harkless, Avery Bradley and Kendrick Nunn have been discussed. Dinwiddie also has a player option headed into the offseason, so Brooklyn could hold onto him and go the sign-and-trade route.
“There are multiple teams interested in Powell and Brooklyn’s in there. The have Spencer Dinwiddie and I know Dinwiddie can’t play this year but to get his Bird Rights could be interesting.
In discussing Dinwiddie on Perez’s Radio Roulette show, Woj essentially seemed to tone down expectations of a big return for the 6’6” point guard. Dinwiddie, of course, is out for the year with a partially torn ACL and has been rehabbing in southern California on his own. “A team that might want Spencer Dinwiddie’s Bird Rights might want to sign him. Nets can get that money off. They can get back maybe a second round pick,” said Woj. “I know there are some teams that like Dinwiddie and would like to give Brooklyn a guy who has money coming back next year and that doesn’t really interest the Nets, like take on some money for next year.” Rather, he said, the Nets want “a player they might like down the stretch this year but it’s not really worth the tradeoff and so that’ll be an interesting one to watch too.”
As for teams that would want Dinwiddie, Woj said it would likely be “a team that doesn’t have cap space or just wants to get him in and had a leg up on re-signing him.” Windhorst said from what he hears, Dinwddie is “definitely out there” and admitted the buzz about the 28-year-old surprises him.
Another guard set to enter free agency this summer, Dinwiddie has attracted interest from several teams before the deadline, sources said. Detroit, Houston, Indiana and Chicago have looked into acquiring Dinwiddie as a means to obtain his Bird rights, should the guard waive his 2021-22 player option as expected.
Several teams remain engaged in talks regarding Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie. Sources said the Pistons, Heat and Raptors have shown interest in Dinwiddie with the ability to use his Bird rights and offer him a deal for up to five years in free agency. Dinwiddie is expected to opt out of his $12.3 million player option for next season.
Dinwiddie can be obtained for a role player off the bench who can contribute this season as Brooklyn chases a title and a future second-round pick, league sources told HoopsHype. According to executives around the league who spoke with HoopsHype, the belief is a team that is over the cap would make the most sense totrade for Dinwiddie because the team would be able to monitor his rehab progress from a partially torn ACL and acquire his Bird Rights, which would allow him to be signed while going over the salary cap.
The Miami Heat are among the teams that have had interest in acquiring Spencer Dinwiddie from the Nets, per SNY sources. As previously reported, the Pistons are also among teams who are interested in dealing for him ahead of the trade deadline.
The guard has a $12.3 million player option for 2021-22. If Dinwiddie -- the Nets most valuable trade chip right now -- is moved before the deadline, any teams that trades for him would likely do so with plans to sign hm to a new contract if he opted out of his current deal.
The Rockets have since been categorized as inconsistent with their asking price on Tucker. There has been a long-whispered rumor of Brooklyn possibly sending Spencer Dinwiddie to Houston for Tucker, and the Rockets are even said to have posed Miami trading either Tyler Herro or Duncan Robinson for him.
The Detroit Pistons are among the teams who have had interest in acquiring Spencer Dinwiddie from the Nets, per SNY sources.
“The Nets are shopping Spencer Dinwiddie,” Spears said on ESPN’s “The Jump” on Thursday. “Despite his injury, he could be a valuable piece for a team in the future.”
“I’m told that he’s not necessarily interested in a contract buyout before the trade deadline which is March 25, but he could be in play potentially with a buyout after that date is the Cavs don’t find a trade for him in the interim. But one interesting trade piece for the Nets is Spencer Dinwiddie who was lost for the season with that ACL injury.”
Hollinger: I don’t really see what the Nets are offering to bring New Orleans to the table. It has to involve Dinwiddie’s expiring contract, but that has near-zero value for the Pelicans — he’s out for the season and leaving in free agency once it ends. The Nets gave up all their good draft assets in the James Harden trade, so what are they baiting the hooks with? Landry Shamet, who is basically Redick but a decade younger? Nic Claxton? It’s just hard for me to see how Brooklyn gets this to the finish line.
Recently, Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie suffered a partially torn ACL which now rules him out for the remainder of the season. Nonetheless, there weren’t any advancements made in trade talks as Dinwiddie was previously seen as a trade piece that could be dealt away if a Harden deal was to be done in the future. Via ESPN’s Zach Lowe on his podcast: “Spencer Dinwiddie’s health did not make or break the Nets’ ability to get James Harden,” he said. “It’s unclear to me, frankly, if those teams have had anything resembling a serious conversation about James Harden. Let’s make that clear. I don’t sense that there’s been hardly any traction there at all. And maybe the way the Nets started had them thinking ‘Why are we messing with this?’”
Bobby Marks: A tough blow for Brooklyn and Spencer Dinwiddie for various reasons. Besides his value on the court, Dinwiddie who has a $12.3M player option for 2021/22 was considered one of their top trade assets.
Milwaukee also pursued players such as Indiana Pacers two-time All-Star Victor Oladipo and Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie during the offseason, sources said. Around Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks have built a supporting cast of Holiday, All-Star Khris Middleton and All-NBA defensive center Brook Lopez. Either way, given their history battling for MVPs, Harden and Antetokounmpo would be a dreamy duo.
Bobby Marks: I think Spencer Dinwiddie in Brooklyn. Certainly, keep an eye on him. Can this Brooklyn team afford keeping Dinwiddie on a high number when you’ve already got Kyrie Irving making $33 or $34 million? They brought back Joe Harris. Your luxury tax bill for 2021-22 would go through the roof like it is right now.
Spencer Dinwiddie denied any notion he ever requested a trade from the Nets. He called that rumor “really dumb.” Dinwiddie, who was caught off-guard by the question during a Zoom conference call with reporters on Friday explained he felt he could have commanded more money as a free agent, but opted to sign at a lower number — three years, $34 million — to stay in Brooklyn. “I don’t know anybody that takes less than market value to stay on a team that wants to be traded, you know,” he said. “That’d be bad for business. That would kinda be really dumb.”
Those conversations might take a different tone with Dinwiddie than your average player. He’s representing himself after parting ways with his agent, although he downplayed that oddity during the season and said he’s not in contact with any other interested teams. “That’s like tampering or something, isn’t it?” Dinwiddie said. “People don’t have my number like that. My number isn’t just floating around out there. “My decisions are my own. I’m looking forward to anything that comes next. Remember, this year – the next 6, 8 months, however long this season lasts – there’s not really much to do on that front. It’s going to be much more interesting in the summer. That’s more a time for that conversation; right now it’s all about maximizing the 72 games and trying to win a championship with this group we’ve got.”
Brian Lewis: Asked if teams interested in trading for him call him directly since he’s representing himself, Spencer Dinwiddie said “Isn’t that tampering? People don’t have my number like that.” #Nets
Brian Lewis: Spencer Dinwiddie on how being his own agent changes his talks w/ GM Sean Marks over trade rumors: “Whatever they do from a front office perspective, they’re going to do. My job is to help win games.” #Nets
We don’t know if the Nets have any desire to trade Dinwiddie, but we know that several Western Conference contenders have talked internally about Dinwiddie as a potential trade target. And Dinwiddie, Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert would probably be in any Harden-to-Brooklyn deal.
Some around the league always believed a Gordon for Dinwiddie trade with the Nets would make sense for both sides, but it has yet to come to fruition.
Farbod Esnaashari: A source is telling me that the Nets have engaged in talks with the Rockets. James Harden for a variation of: Spencer Dinwiddie, Caris LeVert, Taurean Prince, and Jarrett Allen. Nothing finalized, but Harden to Nets seems like real possibility. If finalized, announced on Nov 22.
Dinwiddie, who is currently representing himself, has been canvassing the league with an eye on solidifying his future – which very well could be elsewhere. He's going into the final year of his deal, and will make $11.5 million in 2020-21. He also has a $12.3 million player option for 2021-22.
The Mavericks are looking all over for a secondary playmaking presence behind Luka Doncic; they’re chasing Indiana’s Victor Oladipo, Brooklyn’s Spencer Dinwiddie, and Chicago’s Zach LaVine.
Spencer Dinwiddie: Which ones!? Put an address on em lol I wanna know just like everyone else
Spencer Dinwiddie: I had the most fun years of my career playing for the Nets. Outside of course when my dad used to coach me before middle school Rolling on the floor laughing
Multiple western conference contenders have expressed interest internally in trading for Nets SG Spencer Dinwiddie, sources tell SNY. The Nets' desire to move Dinwiddie is currently unknown.
As for this offseason, GM Sean Marks has said publicly that re-signing Joe Harris is a top priority. It doesn't seem like Marks' statement was empty rhetoric. Multiple teams believe that bringing Harris back is No. 1 on Brooklyn's to-do list this offseason. If Brooklyn re-signs Harris to a sizable contract in the offseason, that would be another financial hurdle to re-signing Dinwiddie as a free agent in 2021.
Multiple western conference contenders have expressed interest internally in trading for Nets SG Spencer Dinwiddie, sources tell SNY. The Nets' desire to move Dinwiddie is currently unknown. Dinwiddie has a player option on his contract for the 2021-22 season worth $12.3 million. Given their other financial commitments, it may be a challenge for Brooklyn to re-sign Dinwiddie as a free agent.
NetsDaily: ESPN's Brian Windhorst: 'Nets want to upgrade roster ... but there’s a possibility @SDinwiddie_25 might be available depending on the deal, that’s what I’ve heard. Or at least there’s an expectation it could be. I don’t know if he’s available right now ... but that’s possible.' Spencer Dinwiddie: I had the most fun years of my career playing for the Nets. Outside of course when my dad used to coach me before middle school.
Brian Windhorst: The Nets want to upgrade the roster. (...) But there's a possibility that Spencer Dinwiddie might be available depending on the deal, that's what I've heard. Or at least there's an expectation it could be. I don't know if he's available right now, but there's an expectation that that's possible.
Spencer Dinwiddie: I liked yesterday’s news cycle better
Irving implied as much himself, when he bluntly stated the franchise will have to add more in the summer if it hopes to contend. The Nets have more trade assets than most teams, including Dinwiddie and Jarrett Allen, but LeVert might be the most prized chip of them all. “He’s got three years guaranteed at $17 million; that’s a high-value contract for him, locking into that contract when you’ve had that many injuries at Michigan,” said ESPN cap guru Bobby Marks, who is a former Nets assistant GM. “Yeah, that’s a good number as far as if you’re looking at a team. That’s not a dead-weight contract.” Now Nets GM Sean Marks must decide if it’s too high-value to trade, if the young wing’s torrid form before the season got shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic is sustainable.
Spencer Dinwiddie: We have a whole pandemic, I’m watching the Ozark on @netflix and ppl talking about me getting traded... Yep, standard. Oh, and I’m smoking short ribs 🤙🏾
After inking a three-year extension on Dec. 14, 2018 — one that lets him opt out after next season and hit free agency at 28 — Dinwiddie will be in demand on the trade market again this offseason. And he clearly has found his footing and learned how to use his platform.
If Marks goes the trade route, ESPN NBA analyst Bobby Marks, who once served as assistant GM of the Nets, believes the biggest trade chips are Spencer Dinwiddie and Caris LeVert, who split time with Irving in the backcourt for the few games all were healthy. “I think Dinwiddie provides the ultimate insurance policy for Kyrie,” Bobby Marks said in a recent interview with Newsday. “Do you trust Kyrie to stay healthy? I don’t know the answer to that question. On the other hand, Dinwiddie will be technically on an expiring contract (with a player option at the end of 2020-21). He’ll likely opt out. He can be extended starting in December, and are you comfortable having your two point guards making north of $50 million per year?
If Marks goes the trade route, ESPN NBA analyst Bobby Marks, who once served as assistant GM of the Nets, believes the biggest trade chips are Spencer Dinwiddie and Caris LeVert, who split time with Irving in the backcourt for the few games all were healthy. “I think Dinwiddie provides the ultimate insurance policy for Kyrie,” Bobby Marks said in a recent interview with Newsday. “Do you trust Kyrie to stay healthy? I don’t know the answer to that question. On the other hand, Dinwiddie will be technically on an expiring contract (with a player option at the end of 2020-21). He’ll likely opt out. He can be extended starting in December, and are you comfortable having your two point guards making north of $50 million per year?
Could a package including Dinwiddie have landed a player like Aaron Gordon from Orlando? Is Gordon the kind of player that can help push Brooklyn into the East's upper echelon? Some execs believe a player like Gordon can help Brooklyn but wouldn't push them into the echelon of NBA title contender.
Several people mentioned the Nets could be active in trades. Spencer Dinwiddie, Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen are all names that rival executives believe to be available in some form. They could be attractive pieces for the Nets to package together to land a third star that sends them to the top of the conference. Some also wonder whether Brooklyn will spend big to keep unrestricted free agent Joe Harris this summer.
League sources told The Post the Nets aren’t going to make any major changes by the trade deadline. And everything that’s gone on backs that up, with the Nets getting hits on core pieces Jarrett Allen and Spencer Dinwiddie, and turning them down. By the time the deadline passes at 3 p.m. Thursday, any changes the Nets make will likely be around the edges of the roster, or not at all.
“For me, man, the business is the business,” Dinwiddie said. “For all the stuff we talk about player empowerment, we get mad at players for making decision that [they] feel is best for them or best for their families or whatever. That literally is the business. “These teams are going to do what they do. I very well may not be here tomorrow and that’s part of it. And will appreciate every second that I was in Brooklyn and I’ll understand that they’re going to do what they feel is best for the team moving forward trying to win a championship. You can’t take it a certain way, you’ve got to roll with it.”
Alex Kennedy: The Lakers have made some calls to ask about the availability of Spencer Dinwiddie and Dennis Schroder, according to Zach Lowe on this ESPN deadline special.
The Nets are almost certainly not dealing LeVert, Dinwiddie, or Jarrett Allen for a package centered on picks, sources say. That wouldn't make sense with Irving and Durant on board. Irving's knee injury is also a last-minute monkey wrench. LeVert suitors would be subject to what is effectively a poison pill because of his contract extension that kicks in next season. Ditto for Taurean Prince.
Similarly, Dinwiddie has been awesome this season in Brooklyn, but with Kyrie Irving back and Kevin Durant returning next season, Dinwiddie’s opportunities in Brooklyn, logically, will shrink. He’d come at a steep price, but rival executives are at least thinking about it.
Interesting conversation I had with a league exec – with Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn, should aspiring teams trade assets for Spencer Dinwiddie to be their lead guard? Is he capable of being one of the two or three best players on a good team? Based on early returns during Irving’s absence, the answer is yes. Pushed to the second round of the 2014 draft after tearing his ACL in his final season at Colorado, Dinwiddie keeps adding to his game every year. Now in his sixth season, he’s run the Nets’ offense so well in Irving’s absence that Brooklyn hasn’t missed a beat — the Nets are 10-5 in his 15 games as a starter.
Dinwiddie also has been linked with the point guard-needy Suns. Phoenix now reportedly is looking at a three-way deal that would send Trevor Ariza to the Lakers and ship Los Angeles’ Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a third team in order to get them their guard.
In desperate need of a point guard, Phoenix reportedly also expressed interest in Patrick Beverly of the Los Angeles Clippers, Cory Joseph of the Indiana Pacers and Spencer Dinwiddie of the Brooklyn Nets. The problem is the Suns were only shopping second-round picks for the point guards.
Dinwiddie, who became a father to his son Elijah shortly after last season, was also the subject of trade rumors with the Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers and others while a member of the Nets. “Being in trade rumors all summer, I guess it’s two pieces,” Dinwiddie said. “I want to be here. I love being here, so I’m happy that they didn’t (trade him). On the flip side, the fact that the spectrum of teams that were calling means that, obviously, I played well. Because I’ve been on the other side of that situation, where obviously nobody really cared what I was doing. It’s cool in that respect. I guess mildly stressful, but at the same time I can’t control it, so it doesn’t really matter. If Sean (Marks) tells me that I’ve got to go to Phoenix tomorrow, then I’ve got to pack my bags and go to Phoenix. This is nothing I control.”
“Being in trade rumors all summer, I guess, there’s two pieces — I want to be here, I love being here, I’m happy that they didn’t. On the flip side, the spectrum of teams that were calling obviously means I played well. Mildly stressful, but at the same time, I can’t control it. I just sit here and take it day by day.”
Years of health issues and bad roster fits behind him, Dinwiddie was a finalist for the N.B.A.’s Most Improved Player Award. He is the kind of young star you would expect to be settling into security, but after a summer as the subject of several trade rumors — only to have the Nets trade Jeremy Lin instead — he is not ready to assume he has found a permanent home. “Is my place on the team secure?” he said, arching his eyebrows and breaking into a large smile. “I don’t know.”
The Phoenix Suns are still actively seeking out a point guard on the trade market, 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s John Gambadoro reports. Among targets, the Suns have discussed the Los Angeles Clippers’ Patrick Beverley, Indiana’s Cory Joseph and the Nets’ Spencer Dinwiddie.
Nets Daily: Reports out of Arizona suggest Suns are having internal discussions about trading for a point guard with @Spencer Dinwiddie one of three possibilities. Seems like a long way between this and trade talks. Hard to imagine anything real before December. Personally I’d hate to lose him.
Does it suck a bit that you’re not a free agent this offseason after a 👌 year? You’d probably be looking at long-term security for the first time. Spencer Dinwiddie: Nah, it is what it is. I’m not worried about it. I didn’t get into this for money. I want to win and build a legacy. I have like 8-10 years left to do this at an extremely high level. I want eight championships and eight Finals MVPs. Thanks for that headline. Spencer Dinwiddie: Haha, no problem. Money will come as it’s supposed to. It is nice to know I’ll have a job next year though, LOL.
In a post-deadline podcast between Zach Lowe and Brian Windhorst about the Cavaliers big moves Thursday, Lowe said Cleveland had offered their first round pick, which would be a late pick, to the Nets for Spencer Dinwiddie, but the Nets said no. Here’s the exchange about Dinwiddie and Jeremy Lin’s decision to opt in so far ahead of the deadline for player options.
Zach Lowe: One little wrinkle about who the Cavs chased with their first round pick. The Cavs had talks with the Nets about Spencer Dinwiddie. Like ... would the Nets take our pick for Dinwiddie. The Nets wanted a LOT for Dinwiddie. I love the thinking though. A) Dinwiddie has been pretty good, fills a need and B) take him off the Nets and what does that do for the Nets’ pick that we own. Thats a fun one. A fun one. Brian Windhorst: In terms of Nets business, what about Jeremy Lin picking up his contract for next year ... yesterday. ZL: Hey, why waste time? BW: We all knew he was picking it up. It’s funny, he’s ‘FYI, I’m picking it up.’
Spencer Dinwiddie knows Brooklyn is where he wants to be now and in the future. But he isn’t a fool. He knows it’s that time of the year for business decisions to be made. “The great part about this organization is that Sean Marks and Kenny [Atkinson] are always going to be diligent in the process, trying to improve the team not only by thinking about now, but thinking long-term,” Dinwiddie told NetsDaily. “And you have to respect that whichever way that happens. Obviously I was a beneficiary of that last year. If I’m moved, I’m moved. That’s just the way it goes.”
“With the way everything has gone, Brooklyn is home,” said Dinwiddie. “But I also understand the business of basketball and the way the NBA works. Anything can happen at any time, so you just have to be prepared and act professional as possible.”
One scout suggested now might be the best time for the Nets to deal Spencer Dinwiddie, who has become a fan favorite and an absolute revelation. “I think the Nets will trade Dinwiddie at some point. They’ve got [Jeremy] Lin coming back. They feel D’Angelo Russell is part of their future. Dinwiddie’s value is probably the highest because he’s got another year at a low number ($1.656 million, partially guaranteed). And he’s playing real well,” the scout said. “If those guys come back healthy, he won’t play as much and then he’s an unrestricted free agent the following year and his value will be a lot lower.”
At the end of their podcast on the upcoming trade season, Zach Lowe asked Adrian Wojnarowski about teams he’ll be interested in watching at Thursday’s deadline approaches. Without suggesting any trade machine fodder, Woj reiterated what most pundits have been saying, the Nets could do some profit-taking on their development of “second chance guys.” He identified Joe Harris and Spencer Dinwiddie who have the most value, along with DeMarre Carroll, but he also said he thought the ceiling for Harris was “maybe a second (rounder)” and that the Nets would have to consider moving Dinwiddie if another offers a first rounder.
Adrian Wojnarowski: “Brooklyn will be interesting. They’ve done a great job of developing some of these second chance guys in the league --Spencer Dinwiddie, Joe Harris. (...) DeMarre Carroll has value because there are so few guys at his position available around the league. DeMarre Carroll has value. So, I think Brooklyn wanted to show progress this year, wanted to win more games and they don’t have their pick, so there’s no real motivation for them to tank. They wanted to show progress and they’ve certainly done that but they've done a good job. “Maybe Joe Harris gets them a second. Spencer Dinwiddie has just been tremendous. They have him next year on a team option at a really low number. So you’re not giving up Spencer Dinwiddie without getting a LOT back. whoever they would draft --lets say they got a pick -- would he be better than Spencer Dinwiddie? Probably not and so I think Brooklyn has put themselves in a position where they can keep gathering up some assets.”
As trade winds began to blow, Spencer Dinwiddie made it clear Thursday that he wants to stay with the Nets over a long time. “I would love to be here long-term. I’m fully indebted to Brooklyn,” Dinwiddie told WFAN host (and noted Nets fan) Evan Roberts.
Spencer Dinwiddie, who spoke to Roberts about a number of issues, including the Nets inability to get calls late, said he noticed the Nets commitment as soon as he arrived 13 months ago. “Honestly, my very first impression of Brooklyn was the culture of development. I thought they were very invested in the guys they chose to be a part of that.”
