Just a week after the start of the season, Brooklyn Nets playmaker Spencer Dinwiddie suffered a break in the ACL during a game against Charlotte Hornets. Depending on what happens in the coming weeks, the injury may not only end Dinwiddie’s season, but also his time in Brooklyn.
While looking to make some moves before the negotiation deadline, the Nets are buying Dinwiddie, according Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated. We don’t have many details more than that. However, the Detroit Pistons is one of the interested teams, according to SNY’s Ian Begley.
On the one hand, it is a little cruel to change an injured player, but it is not surprising that the Nets are investigating what they can achieve for Dinwiddie. They emptied their squad to complete the James Harden exchange, and Dinwiddie is one of the only players that they would be willing to change and that other teams may be interested in acquiring.
Then there is the fact that Dinwiddie will not be playing again this season, and the Nets are already out of depth. If they manage to turn Dinwiddie into a useful player, that will be a big boost to their title chances. And finally, Dinwiddie has a player option for the next season. If he gives up and tries a free agency without restrictions, the Nets may end up losing him for nothing.
Sure, this is just a rumor right now, but it’s not hard to see why the Nets are exploring the idea. Nor is it difficult to see why the Pistons would be interested. They are in the process of transitioning to a complete reconstruction, and there was a lot of concern about their off-season decisions.
However, one thing that is clear is that they are in the business of buying a few talented players in search of a bigger role or a second chance. Dinwiddie fits that profile perfectly. He is coming out of a serious injury and will not be a key player in advancing the Nets now that Kyrie Irving and James Harden are in town. This can create an opportunity for the pistons.
Obviously, we will have to wait and see what happens here, but it is possible that a Nets-Pistons Dinwiddie exchange can help everyone involved.