NEW YORK — Spencer Dinwiddie did not say precisely how he came upon he was returning to the Brooklyn Nets, the place he performed from 2016 till 2021, however he stated he was studying the tea leaves. It was “not like a secret or something” that the Dallas Mavericks wished so as to add star expertise, and often “that entails picks and that entails a participant or two or three that folks discover worthwhile across the league.” Once Kyrie Irving demanded a commerce, Dinwiddie’s agent stayed up to the mark. And Dinwiddie stated he understood what the Nets wanted.
“We will not be one of the best commerce package deal, however we’re one of the best trying, and the Nets wanted some assist in that division,” Dinwiddie stated, seated subsequent to a laughing Dorian Finney-Smith at their introductory press convention on Tuesday. “So, they drew their line on Doe and Spence, and now we’re right here.”
The NBA commerce deadline will be dramatic, unpredictable and, for some gamers, extraordinarily disturbing. Dinwiddie introduced some levity to the proceedings, informing the media that his son, Elijah, is about to show 5 years outdated, “so he is not crawling round anymore. He’s going to be in right here appearing like he is working issues, simply so .”
Dinwiddie waxed nostalgic about his first stint in Brooklyn, during which the franchise transitioned from the temporary Jeremy Lin-Brook Lopez period to a bunch of up-and-comers that made the playoffs after which reworked right into a group with “max guys and championship aspirations.” Dinwiddie tore his ACL early within the 2020-21 season and left in a sign-and-trade the next summer season, however continued to root for the Nets from afar.
“Yeah, to a level, it’s a second chew on the apple,” he stated. “And though I wished to win over in Dallas, I imply clearly there’s a sure stage of delight that it could be to convey a championship to Brooklyn over another group within the league.”
It was solely August 2021 when Dinwiddie departed, but he stated it appears like about 5 years have handed. Dinwiddie returned from his harm, was traded from the Washington Wizards to the Mavericks ultimately 12 months’s commerce deadline and went on to publish a pair of 26-point performances within the convention finals. Now he is again with the Nets, because of a commerce demand made by a star he helped recruit. He stated he is completely happy to be again and it is an honor for him and Finney-Smith — a former second-round choose and an undrafted participant, respectively — to be on the podium within the Barclays Center interview room, having been traded for Irving.
“The enterprise is the enterprise,” Dinwiddie stated. “A famous person is a famous person. He places butts within the seats. He scores a whole lot of factors. He’s an excellent, phenomenal participant and expertise. So in the event that they’re saying, hey, we really feel like that is one of the best worth for us for now and for the longer term, then meaning you should be fairly good, too.”
Repeatedly, Dinwiddie heaped reward on Finney-Smith for his defensive versatility and willingness to do something to win.
“I ain’t met a man he cannot guard exterior of me,” he stated.
Neither new addition will play towards the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. Brooklyn coach Jacque Vaughn stated it could be “unfair” to throw them on the market after arriving from Dallas on Monday, doing their physicals and solely briefly having an opportunity to speak concerning the offense, protection and terminology.
This signifies that Dinwiddie and Finney-Smith are scheduled to make their debuts on Thursday towards the Chicago Bulls, which is able to tip off 4 and a half hours after the commerce deadline. Both of them are eligible to be traded once more, however neither of their salaries will be mixed with one other participant’s. It has been broadly reported that the Nets are nonetheless making an attempt to make upgrades to the roster, and on Monday Marc Stein reported that they had been exploring the potential of buying and selling Dinwiddie, together with draft capital, to the Toronto Raptors in change for Fred VanVleet.
Asked if he’d obtained assurances that he’d stay in Brooklyn past the deadline, Dinwiddie stated that is not one thing he can deal with. “I imply, I assume I’m right here, I plan to be right here,” he stated. “I do not assume we would be having this press convention in the event that they weren’t [planning to keep me]. This could be a whole lot of bother simply to ship me off in six hours.”
This line drew laughs.
“No, I’m critical,” Dinwiddie stated. “Like, then all of us look loopy. Y’all wasted your time, I wasted my time. But typically, like I stated, once more, enterprise is enterprise. Like, in the event that they supplied Luka Doncic for me proper now in an expanded commerce, if I used to be Sean Marks, I might take it. Why not?”
The commerce can now not be expanded, and a Doncic-Dinwiddie commerce wouldn’t be authorized beneath the collective bargaining settlement, however Dinwiddie’s level is straightforward: If there is a commerce provide that makes the group higher, then he’d perceive being moved once more.
“Sometimes you gotta take away your self and put in your GM hat,” he stated. “But there are undoubtedly some trades that I would not make for me, as nicely.”
