In a podcast appearance with Dylan Burris of NetsPress, Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie admitted there is a level of uncertainty surrounding Brooklyn and the league as a whole until the Damian Lillard and James Harden situations are resolved. The Nets have been cited as a possible Tyler Herro suitor in three-team scenarios with Portland and Miami.
“Obviously, the offseason isn’t over,” said Dinwiddie. “I know the entire league is in a holding pattern for Dame and James. It could affect what we have going on.”
When asked if he knew anything about the Nets’ interest in possible trades, Dinwiddie said that information was “certainly above my pay grade.”
Assuming the roster remains intact, the 30-year-old expects 2023/24 to be a “building” year, as NetsDaily.com relays.
“If we do have this team, which it looks like we will, it’s going to another year of coalescing, building,” Dinwiddie told Burris. “Mikal (Bridges) will try to establish himself as possibly an All-Star, a first time All-Star. I think Nic (Claxton) is going to try to establish himself as one of the premier big men in the league especially being in a contract year and heading into free agency next year.
“Cam (Johnson), I think, has more ball skills than people kind of expected. So I think you’ll see him play extremely well. I think him being comfortable signing his deal, being comfortable and stuff, you’ll see a little bit of a leap there. For Cam, Mikal and Dorian (Finney-Smith), I don’t think any of them had been in another system.
“We’re going to be a group that gets up and down and hopefully, we have a healthy Ben (Simmons) and if he’s in All-Star form, you might have two All-Stars. If he’s there, we have a real puncher’s chance against anybody.”
According to NetsDaily, Dinwiddie praised Simmons as a teammate and said he was encouraged by his recovery from back and knee injuries, though he didn’t know the specifics.
As Dinwiddie noted, starting center Claxton is on an expiring $9.6MM contract, and the former No. 31 overall pick is coming off a breakout fourth season, having averaged 12.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 2.5 blocks in 76 games (29.9 minutes) in ’22/23. Dinwiddie said his teammate has made strides in multiple areas this offseason, including his touch around the rim, strength, balance and conditioning.
“I think Nic is going to make the biggest jump,” said Dinwiddie, who is also entering the final year of his deal. “I think he’s going to be supremely motivated. I think we’re going to see a big-time year from him.”
Dinwiddie also said he was a “fan” of the team’s offseason moves to this point, per NetsDaily, specifically mentioning free agent additions Dennis Smith Jr. and Lonnie Walker and second-round pick Jalen Wilson, who is on a two-way contract.
Nets are all about Ben. Either he shows up. Or it’s time to cut him loose.
Don’t see Nets investing in Herro contract. When they have their SG Brooklyn Bridges. Makes no sense to bring in Herro. They need bigs. Clowney is young. So he will take a few yrs. They could use a vet big.
I like their drafted players this yr.
Simmons, herro, bridges, johnson, claxton?
This ain’t the Warriors. Gotta go big and tough in Bklyn. The East has good Bigs.
They could easily make room for The Boy Wonder. Slide Cam up to PF, put Noodles back at SF and use Doe-Doe as a defensive stopper type bench guy.
This ain’t Dick Tracy ????
LOL AL !!!!
Not a nets follower, but what happened to Cam Thomas in all these plans? Was his hit streak last season all smoke?
Is it above his pay grade because it’s an owners decision? Or below his pay grade because it’s a GM decision?
If Ben wants to dominate. He should start at the 4. He can play 3 or 4. And still have 6-7 ast a gm. That’s the move imo
I’m interested in seeing how BKN aligns. Great group of bigger wing players; a commodity most teams are looking for. But they’re thin, at best, at point and inside. Then there’s Simmons (assuming he’s RWA to play), who fits somewhere in between, but isn’t a wing. Maybe they do need to make another move or two.
Knicks could sign Taj again. I’m good with him backing Randle. Plus he can mentor Roby. He helps ……
link to dailyknicks.com