Spencer Dinwiddie has signed with the Washington Wizards on Tuesday via a sign and trade. The two sides agreed to a three-year contract worth $62 million, or $21 million per season. This contract ties him down through the 2023-2024 season.
Spencer Dinwiddie Signs with the Washington Wizards
Over his seven-year NBA career, Dinwiddie has played for the Detroit Pistons and Brooklyn Nets. He has put up 12.9 points and 5.0 assists per game for his career. He was originally drafted in the second round, 48th overall in the 2014 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons. In his last healthy season, he averaged 20.6 points and 6.8 assists for the Nets.
Dinwiddie’s deal came via a sign and trade from the Nets that involved five teams. The Wizards are sending a 2024 second-round pick and a 2025 draft swap with Brooklyn in the deal. Washington is also sending Chandler Hutchison and a 2022 second-round pick to the San Antonio Spurs. The Wizards trade with the Lakers that sent Russell Westbrook to LA will also be included in this deal. The number 22 overall pick in this year’s draft (Isaiah Jackson) will be going to the Pacers (originally was supposed to go to Washington).
What this means for the future
For the Wizards, they are getting a quality starting point guard in Dinwiddie. He has already proven to be able to handle a lead guard role. Two years ago, he led the Nets in assists and was second on the team in scoring. His shooting percentages leave a lot to be desired (41% FG, 31.8% 3PT for career) but he can still fill up the stat sheet when healthy. Russell Westbrook, another point guard who struggles to shoot the basketball, was able to coexist with Bradley Beal, so Dinwiddie should have no issue fitting into the Wizards offense.
Last season, Dinwiddie tore his ACL three games into the season. His health coming into the year is a question mark, and he may be limited to start the season. The Wizards depth chart does not look that great, so outside of Bradley Beal, Dinwiddie should be able to have the second-best offensive production on this team. There is some concern that this could be a bad signing for Washington. After all, his second-best season was averaging only 16.8 points and 4.6 assists per game and he is coming off a major injury. However, considering the state of the Wizards, this is worth the gamble. Washington is not a free agent destination for players, so they have to take what they can get. At only 21 million per season, Dinwiddie is a much-needed signing for a team with one of the worst rosters in the league.
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