KEY POINTS

  • Spencer Dinwiddie gets a new lease on life with the Washington Wizards
  • The Wizards needed to pull several strings to acquire Dinwiddie
  • Dinwiddie will fill in the Russell Westbrook void

Spencer Dinwiddie will get a new lease on life following reports that he is now with the Washington Wizards.

It was a complicated sign-and-trade process that saw the 28-year-old end up getting a three-year deal worth $62 million.

The deal was reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic citing sources. As part of the deal, the Wizards will also be sending a second-round selection to the Nets and the right to swap future draft picks.

Related to the deal was another transaction involving Chandler Hutchinson. The 25-year-old was sent to the San Antonio Spurs along with a 2022 second-round pick, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported.

The deal involved five teams that included the Los Angeles Lakers and Indiana Pacers. The Hutchinson trade also allowed Washington to get under the luxury tax threshold following the acquisition of Dinwiddie.

Dinwiddie found himself displaced in Brooklyn with Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving around.

He played only three games last season, a result of a season-ending partial ACL tear. But even before that, he was already expected to get lesser playing time with a cramped but talented guard rotation.

He managed to put up only 6.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in 21.3 minutes of action.

These were a far cry from his averages since joining the Nets in 2017, averaging 14.3 markers, 3.0 boards, and 5.3 dimes in 27.8 minutes of play.

Dinwiddie is undoubtedly someone who can shine if given the right playing time. Washington could be that team as the California native is expected to take the place of Russell Westbrook, who is now with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Spencer Dinwiddie #26 of the Brooklyn Nets is introduced before a game against the Golden State Warriors
Spencer Dinwiddie #26 of the Brooklyn Nets is introduced before a game against the Golden State Warriors Getty Images | Jim McIsaac

Bradley Beal needs all the help he can get, and Dinwiddie is seen as the player who can provide that. But that still depends on how healthy the 6-foot-5 guard performs.

There was talk that Dinwiddie could have returned in the latter part of last season although it never happened. The added rest could work to his advantage as he prepares for the 2021-22 NBA season.

The new Wizards tandem should be interesting for the coming season as the club tries to improve from their 34-38 win-loss record in the Eastern Conference last season.

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