LA Clippers: Could Spencer Dinwiddie be a Trade Target?

The offseason is approaching! As the LA Clippers figure out what changes they want to make, it looks like Spencer Dinwiddie is possibly a target.

One of the more often discussed fake trades among fans of the LA Clippers is some kind of deal for Spencer Dinwiddie. One of the missing pieces for the team last season was a point guard who could consistently run the offense.

Now, some whispers are getting louder that multiple Western conference teams are considering putting together an offer for the soon-to-be 28 year old guard, and Spencer has noticed (and is interested).

https://twitter.com/SDinwiddie_25/status/1325931029266272256

The phrasing that he “had” the most fun years of his career with the Nets is interesting.

Dinwiddie’s value on the trade market is tough to gauge. He’s certainly an effective player; last season he averaged 20.6 points and 7 assists while getting to the free throw line 7 times. However, he does have a player option for next season, so if he’s traded to somewhere he doesn’t want to go, he could bounce after one year.

It’s fair enough to think that Dinwiddie, a native of LA, would be comfortable playing for the Clippers, so they shouldn’t have too many qualms with making an offer. If a Jrue Holiday trade turns out to be too difficult, as it likely will, Spencer would be a very nice target. The first offer I would consider would be this, and I’d be fine throwing in a second round pick or two:

This trade feels like it makes sense for both teams. Dinwiddie’s strengths are a bit redundant now that he’s alongside Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. Last year his usage rate (a measure of how many possessions ended with this player either shooting, assisting or turning the ball over) was 29.2%! Just under a third of the possessions with Dinwiddie on the court were ended by him.

If you’re the Nets, you would obviously prefer that Kyrie and KD be starting and ending a lot of those possessions. And that pushes Dinwiddie off ball, where he’s not the perfect fit – he shot 37% on catch and shoot threes, which is perfectly acceptable, but not great. And we haven’t even gotten into who plays guard defense between Kyrie and Spencer.

Of course, they could keep bringing Spencer off the bench, where he can keep being a high usage bench scorer. But his social media activity might suggest that he’s not looking forward to being a reserve; if that’s the case, it’s hard to imagine him fitting next to Kyrie and KD.

However, he would fit nicely on the LA Clippers. He can initiate the offense, which is something neither of our stars are terribly comfortable doing. While his off-ball play would still hurt, he could play more of the Kyle Lowry role from Kawhi’s old team – running the offense and either breaking his man down or making the right read to get the ball to Kawhi or PG.

On the other hand, Patrick Beverley is a perfect fit next to the Nets’ stars. Bev does not need the ball in his hands, but he can give Kyrie a break from running the offense for a few possessions. He’s a much better off-ball scorer than Dinwiddie, hitting at 41% on catch and shoot threes.

He can play defense and automatically defend the best guard on the other team, letting Kyrie handle the weaker defensive assignment. On top of that, he’s been complimentary of Kevin Durant in the past, calling him the “best player in the NBA” in 2019. Likewise, KD has had praise for Bev’s defense. If Kyrie and KD think this deal makes the team better, that goes a long way to making it happen.

This is a spot where Landry Shamet could grease the wheels, if Beverley alone doesn’t get the deal done. If I’m the Clippers, I fight hard to keep it just Bev for Dinwiddie, but in the end I would probably agree to adding Shamet.

Alternatively, speaking of Shamet, the Clippers could include him in a deal alongside somebody who plays very similarly to Dinwiddie.

This deal gives the Nets another instant offense guy to replace Dinwiddie. The difference is that Lou Williams is comfortable playing that sixth man role, and we’re not so certain that Dinwiddie is as comfortable doing so long term.

The Nets also get a young prospect who can shoot in this deal. That’s always valuable, but if Joe Harris walks in free agency, they will need to replace his threat from behind the three point line. Shamet isn’t a Joe Harris level shooter, but he has room to grow and is already a sniper.

And if the Nets keep Joe Harris, then they can run some really filthy lineups with four elite shooters and DeAndre Jordan grabbing missed shots.

It’s tough to say if either of these deals get the job done, and a lot of it depends on what the bidding war looks like and how much input Kyrie and KD have on the move. If the front office gives their opinions some weight and they want Bev or Lou, that will help our case a lot.

What would you be willing to give up for Dinwiddie? Let us know on Twitter, and follow along here as we get ready to bring you updates on what’s sure to be a wild shortened offseason!