Typically, when an NBA player is asked about his upcoming free agency, he’ll respond in general platitudes rather than speaking openly about how he expects the process to play out. However, appearing on The Crossover with Howard Beck of SI.com (video link) after turning down his 2021/22 player option, Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie didn’t hesitate to get into specifics about his free agency.
“For all the fans that think because I opted out I have to leave or something like that, no, this is very much in the Nets’ hands, you feel me?” Dinwiddie said, per Brian Lewis of The New York Post. “I think my full max is like five (years), $196 (million) or something like that. And nobody’s sitting here saying I’m going to get five, $196MM — so before anybody tries to kill me, nobody’s saying that.
“But the Nets have the ability to do something that other people can’t. If the Nets come to the table like that, and they’re being aggressive and are saying, ‘Hey we got five, $125MM for you,’ I would say there’s a high likelihood that I go back to the Nets, you know what I mean? But if they don’t come to the table (like that), and they’re like ‘Oh, we’re going to give you a three for $60MM,’ well, anybody can do that.”
As Dinwiddie alludes to, the Nets hold his full Bird rights, giving them the ability to offer a fifth year and annual raises of 8%. Rival suitors would be limited to four years and 5% raises, and would need to either sign Dinwiddie using cap room or work out a sign-and-trade to give him a salary in his desired range. No such restrictions face Brooklyn.
Still, the Nets are heavily invested in their three superstars (Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden), two of whom are guards, meaning they may be reluctant to set themselves up for a massive luxury tax bill by signing Dinwiddie to a lucrative new contract.
For what it’s worth, the five-year, $125MM figure Dinwiddie throws out in his conversation with Beck seems overly optimistic on the 28-year-old’s part, particularly since he’s coming off a partial ACL tear that sidelined him for nearly the entire season. As NetsDaily observes, if Dinwiddie can land a four-year contract in the range of the ones signed by point guards Malcolm Brogdon and Fred VanVleet in recent years ($85MM), he’d be doing very well.
The Heat, Knicks, and Bulls are among the teams that will be on the hunt for a point guard this offseason and have the ability to open up cap space, so they could be among the teams competing with Brooklyn for Dinwiddie’s services. Kristian Winfield of The New York Daily News says the Mavericks are also expected to express interest in the veteran guard.
Dinwiddie reportedly wouldn’t mind playing in his hometown of Los Angeles, but the Clippers and Lakers will have limited cap flexibility.
Wa?
Whatever he ends up getting will be way more than any contract Oladipo ends up with.
If they offered 3/60, I think he should take it from the Nets, provided no one else steps in and offers a stupid amount of money for a player who is coming off an injury that hasn’t been evidenced as ok and has produced on a team that didn’t have anyone else really there to produce. Even a broken clock is correct twice a day. He’s good, but he’s not Schroeder good .
He’s way better than shroder, are you high?
No, he isn’t. Look at the stats. Schroder’s best seasons (plural) match Dinwiddie’s best season. In other words Schroder at his best is roughly equivalent to Dinwiddie at his best, only Schroder has much more of a track record. The stats don’t lie. Both put up good numbers on bad teams.
I was gonna say the same thing he’s better than Schroeder don’t think you seen him play much or his highlights.
Dinwiddie has only one season that is as good as Schroder’s three best years. Not saying Schroder is great or anything, but saying that Dinwiddie is much better than Schroder, particularly coming off an injury, is a stretch.
Let’s see Hawks couldn’t wait to get rid of Schroeder. Lakers can’t win with him and can’t wait to get rid of him. Dinwiddie was the Nets closer and leader. He got there by getting better every yr. If you actually watch him. You would understand his growth. No one in NBA takes Schroeder over Dinwiddie. And Brogdon. VanVleet is actually a good measurement. He’s worth more if he was healthy. But even after injury. The market says he’s worth more than 4yrs 85 mill. He’s the BEST FA PG on market. That’s not me talking. That’s the NBA talking. See if you actually had sense of what players actually do for their money. You might get that. If any team can overpay for a player. Its the Richest team in NBA that happens to need a PG. wow I must be smart. Wait even ten year olds know this. I wouldn’t give Dinwiddie more than 20 mill. It’s what I’ve always said. So try and keep up. Fact is you don’t watch him play. Cause he’s nothing like Schroeder lol.
@west. It was sarcasm. Apparently my arrow quotes are omitted because it can be taken as source code/html, thus removed. The comparison was to Schroeder’s ridiculous self assessment and rejection of the Lakers offer.
yeah except the nets would be silly to offer him that much
It’s a difficult comparison.
Dinwiddie at his best was a leader and big reason the Nets made the playoffs with/after the Russell phase and pre/during the Kyrie phase. However he is also coming off a huge injury.
That said numbers wise Schroder has multiple good seasons with better numbers than Dinwiddie. His defence is also on another planet in comparison. However Schroder never did much with Atlanta, was a back up in OKC and on the Lakers is what a third/fourth option?
So I think it comes down to fit. For a team like Dallas, they may want Schroeder’s defence and scoring over Dinwiddie’s leadership qualities and track history. However if your the Lakers/Clippers you make opt for the playmaking and all round ability of Dinwiddie who could also be a better locker room fit too.
Schroder has already turned down big money and Dinwiddie is trying to name what he thinks is his price. In all honesty I think both players should take less and go for where they fit best.
Apparently he wants 5 years/125
I give two yrs and let him prove himself. The he gets paid and gets to play in best market in the World. On a rising team. He’s gotten better every yr. He’s a big 2way PG. He knows NY and is not awed or going to party away. His demeanor and attitude is a good mix with this team. Plus at 28 he’s a young vet that can grow with us. Just had his best yr. He is not going to get worse. He is going to improve here with Thibs. 40 mill two yrs and prove yourself. We can draft Ayo and he can be ready after two yrs.
Dinwiddie said
“I think my full max is like five (years), $196 (million) ”
“If the Nets come to the table like that, and they’re being aggressive and are saying, ‘Hey we got five, $125MM for you ……….”
Dinwiddie asking price: $125M
how about Reggie Jackson and Cam Payne?
Yeah exactly! If he thinks he’s even going to sniff $125M he is bonkers. I’ll gladly eat my words if he proves me wrong because I think he deserves a good pay day but there’s not a chance he breaks his number.
Brah, your getting your money in bitcoin. Good luck, it’s stagnant.
People might disagree with me, but I wouldn’t give Dinwiddie anything close to 3/60. I would offer 3/36 and maybe go as high as 3/45. Anything more and I would wish him good luck at his new destination.
Mark my words, he will end up being the “Chandler Parsons” of this off season.
100% agree. This is the type of dude, clown GMS throw money at based off one season and end up regretting it. Poor shooting %s, no sustained success, and a major injury. Suckers want to give him money based on his 2k rating. LMAO. Fools and their money are soon parted. Brooklyn doesn’t need this bum
Totally with you. Low efficiency scorer with one great season on a bad team where he was the number one option. And coming off a major injury.
He will likely get more than 3/$60 million, though I wouldn’t want to be the one to hand that out.
Spencer might want to read up on how the NBA salary cap works. “Anyone” can do 3/$60m? Not so much. In fact, only a handful of teams can this year, short of a sign and trade or dumping salary to open space (and you don’t do that for a guy at Dinwiddie’s level). On top of that, there are other free agents who will make more than the mid-level exception that those handful of teams will be hunting as well.
This situation seems absolutely primed for a sign and trade.
Do the Mavs have the cap space for both Dinwiddie and THJ?
They can always sign Dinwiddie and then re-sign THJ. You can re-sign players and go over the cap.
Then they could probably get back under the cap by moving Porzingis to a team with a little bit of cap space and taking back less salary. Perhaps to Sacramento for Bagley and change.
Nope. They’d have to renounce THJ to get rid of his cap hold to have the cap space to sign SD.
They wouldn’t have to renounce THJ. They have $20MM without renouncing anyone. They could another almost $17MM by renouncing JJ Redick. I would hope they aren’t planning on offering Dinwiddie more than $37MM for next year.
Of course then you have to wonder the fit of Luka, Dinwiddie, and THJ.
Your math is off. They have 75-90 mm in contracts on the books, PRIOR to cap holds and roster holds. Add THJ’s 28 mm cap hold (and a 3-5 roster holds) and there’s little to no cap space. Certainly not more than the MLE.
Not my math, talk to Fanspo.
Good pillow contract candidate
It’s good to believe in yourself, but accepting the option as a prove-it deal for a team with championship aspirations might have been his best choice coming off a major injury. Most teams don’t have the cap space to give him anywhere close to what he’s seeking. With the Nets, they also have to think about extensions for the Big 3.
SD has been sending messages trying to shape the landscape of his free agency since mid-year. The local angle (LA teams) didn’t make much sense, and I’m not sure this (suggesting he can get 3/60 anywhere) is going to play any better.
Would he really turn it down if he got 3/60 for the opportunity to play with the Big 3 for the next three years?
Only if he got a better offer.
He sounds like Kelly Oubre saying he wants $20 million. For what performance??
If I were a GM, I’d pay Oubre.
You should apply for the cavaliers. Seems like they are up your alley
Dinwiddie is the best FA on the market. But he is coming off injury. He’s still worth more than the 12.5 mill he turned down. Him asking for 25 mill should tell you. He’s not getting more or even that. His best deal is. Sign 2 yr and get paid the third yr. might get 20-25 mill then. There’s ignorance feelings here. Who don’t get why Dinwiddie is a good fit for NY. First Not everyone can play here. He knows our team and he knows city n MSG. He’s a Knick killer. He’s a 2way player that can lead. Does not make mistakes with ball. And he’s guaranteed 18 n 8 on this Knicks team. So why exactly shouldn’t we sign him. All I hear is he’s not worth it. He’s hurt. He can’t shoot. All critics who have never watched him play. Do any of you understand the upgrade over Payton. What that does for Randle and RJ to have a playmaker who can score. And got basketballs. A leader to close out gms. Im not On Dinwiddie like Marty is on Curry. He’s a FA that fits our need. One who I’ve watched for yrs. I know he can helps us n makes us better. I KNOW in a basketball sense. I KNOW.
I am gleeful. Let the team that values Schroder get him, and the team that values Dins get Dins, and be happy they did.
hiflew, Casor, rct, padam, whitesox12, phenom, yep, kaizzer can have Schroder or ReggieJ, x%sure takes Dins, see who does best teamwise vs consensus outlooks next year. Team W-L, not individual stats, because those stats can lie if that is what a player is interested in.
I have been onboard with Payne since he was on the Cavs, but like ReggieJ he is an injury liklihood. Schroder & Dins less likely. Cripes I’ve also spoken up on Caruso even yesterday, a couple years ago Payton for NYK and loudly for Conley, McDonnell as a weapon, DRose and Ish for backups… lots of FA PG options out there!
Dins would be fixing Mav problems, or getting Bulls into the playoffs and keeping Lavine & Doncic on target. I don’t think he is a Rose/Thibs type but maybe he has gained some celebrity value in NY. I doubt he compliments Riley culture enough to get a Miami offer.
These last comments of his, amusing… Agree with DXC, not that strategic… Dins does talk a lot. He seemed to be making sure he wasn’t neglected or under-offered. A 3/$60 is okay
I assume his nickname is Dins. If it were din, I would have reasoned it out. Nba nicknames are so out of hand. Kb,kd,kt,kj,kw,kp,c3p,lbj (thanks, now kids will no longer know lyndon johnson), smoove (tf?). Its very much an exclusive language.
Why on earth would any kid wanna or need to know a dude like lyndon johnson?!?!?
Maybe I was too gleeful! :D
Wound up being a long post anyway… Agree that nicknames can be used too much.
It feels like Dinwiddie has played for two different teams called the Nets, one with a big 3 and one without. But he helped recruit them.
So make him a coach instead of a PG then. If all you want is a recruiter, hire the guy as an assistant coach for a lot less money and get a better PG on the floor.
Otherwise, I’ll stick to avoiding him.
The point was he was sacrificing for the team, reducing his own chances for PT. I would not call him a star individually, but he can get real & talk persuasively & not make it me me me.
Why avoid him?— Too talkative, Bad grammar?
Who gets through to to Doncic or Levine or Butler?— some “Look at me” kid or a HC? Some players get a coach fired, some make coaches look good (Atkinson, finally got an AC job).