The Nets “very much” want to keep Spencer Dinwiddie “long term,” Adrian Wojnarowski told WFUV last week, but it doesn’t appear that they offered him an extension on Saturday or since.
December 8, the second anniversary of his signing with the Nets in 2016, was the first day Brooklyn could offer the 6’6” guard an extension of four years and $47.5 million — a figure he’s said he’s accept. The Nets and Dinwiddie can make that deal at any point between now and June 30. After that, he’s an unrestricted free agent.
Dinwiddie, who scored 25 points in the Nets win over the Knicks Saturday, talked about the extension Tuesday, then basically said he’s not going to talk about it any more. Same with his agent.
“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.”
“No news. Nothing to report,” Dinwiddie’s agent, Raymond Brothers, said.
So move along? Not quite, as Brian Lewis reports,
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.
The issue, of course, is flexibility ... and risk. The Nets could have $70 million in cap space in June and would like to conserve it. They will have Dinwiddie’s Bird Rights even if he is unrestricted, meaning they could go out sign other teams’ free agents, then circle back and pay him outside the cap. His cap hold is only $1.6 million. That’s what the Nets did last summer with Joe Harris.
It’s even possible that the Nets could wind up paying a little luxury tax. Sean Marks has said that both Mikhail Prokhorov and Joe Tsai are willing to put up the big bucks when the time comes.
Still, it’s a risk. The Nets could get outbid come summer and lose their biggest development success for nothing. They could make him available at the trade deadline. He’s apparently not part of the Woj-rumored three way deal that will send Trevor Ariza to the Lakers.
Meanwhile, Dinwiddie’s number keep rising. He is a legitimate Sixth Man of the Year candidate, just as he was a legitimate Most Improved Player candidate last season, averaging 16.1 points on 46.7 percent shooting and 35.6 percent from deep, all career-highs.. And he is among the most popular players on a team that despite a high likeability factor, has the worst attendance in the NBA, down 10 percent over last season.
- Dinwiddie left speechless, and deal-less, as Nets drag feet - Brian Lewis - New York Post