Spencer Dinwiddie Would ‘Love’ Extension From Nets

Spencer Dinwiddie will become extension-eligible next month and would “love” to sign a new deal with the Nets, as he tells Michael Scotto of The Athletic. Brooklyn would be able to offer Dinwiddie up to about $47.5MM over four years, and such a deal would “strongly appeal” to the point guard, league sources tell Scotto.

“Oh, I mean, I’d love to have (an extension),” Dinwiddie said. “I’d love to be here. This organization has shown me hospitality and given me an opportunity like I haven’t had in the NBA before, so I’m definitely indebted to them, and if they decide to sign me, I’d be one of the happiest players in the league.”

Veteran players on three-year contracts like Dinwiddie’s become eligible to receive a contract extension on the two-year anniversary of their signing. For the 25-year-old, that date is December 8, so Brooklyn could offer a new contract at that point. Dinwiddie’s maximum starting salary on such a deal would be approximately $10.6MM, 120% of the NBA’s estimated average salary.

Extensions of these nature have become a little more common under the league’s current Collective Bargaining Agreement — Norman Powell and Josh Richardson both signed them last year. However, it’s not clear if the Nets would be willing to put that sort of offer on the table for Dinwiddie, since they’re looking to maximize their 2019 cap room and will also have to consider a potential long-term deal for another point guard, D’Angelo Russell.

Given Dinwiddie’s very modest cap hold ($1.6MM), it probably doesn’t make sense for Brooklyn to do an in-season extension and cut into next year’s cap space, which could be enough for two star free agents. That means the fifth-year guard will likely enter next offseason as an unrestricted free agent. Still, if the Nets are willing to do get something done before then, Dinwiddie would be interested. As he explains to Scotto, it’s more about his desire to remain in Brooklyn than his interest in gaining long-term security as soon as possible.

“If I didn’t want to be here, it would just be a flat out ‘no,’ and I’d tell everybody, ‘Hey, I want to go into unrestricted free agency, and that’s just what it is,'” Dinwiddie said. “It really, as it is now, the ball is in their court. I guess I’m always a bridesmaid so far in the NBA. I’m ready to be a bride, I guess.”

After enjoying a breakout season in 2017/18, Dinwiddie has been even better so far this season, averaging 14.9 PPG, 3.6 APG, and 2.5 RPG with a shooting line of .489/.435/.813 in 27.5 minutes per contest.

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