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Time for a dedicated thread:

I think it's a good move.

One is rarely truly ecstatic after a free agency signing, because free agents typically get paid a full market contract. So it's not like I'm doing backflips or anything. But if you sign a free agent, it better be a guy you really need that fits a hole perfectly. I think Dinwiddie is exactly that.

This team desperately needs another ball-handler who can break down a defense. And preferably, that guy would still have the size to be an effective defender in our switch-everything scheme. Dinwiddie does that. He's no superstar, but I honestly think he will be better than Westbrook at both ends of the court, for half the money.

In his last healthy season two years ago, Dinwiddie led the Nets to a 27-25 record in the 52 games that Kyrie missed. His best teammates were Jarret Allen, Joe Harris, Caris Levert (who missed 28 games), Taurean Prince, and Garrett Temple. He is a good player.

A positive (and detailed) take on what Dinwiddie brings to the table..

https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/the-catalyst-assessing-why-spencer-dinwiddie-should-be-coveted-nba-free-agent

If it becomes official, I think we lucked out b/c the Knicks used up all their cap space with the quickness, Pels moved onto Graham, Ball went to Chicago, and Dallas wasn't going to sign Dinwiddie after bringing back THJ.

Frichuela wrote:A positive (and detailed) take on what Dinwiddie brings to the table..

https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/the-catalyst-assessing-why-spencer-dinwiddie-should-be-coveted-nba-free-agent

Just one snippet from this article to water our mouths..

Among the top-30 players in total assists in 2019-20, just Westbrook (93%) and Harden (92.4%) had a higher percentage of their assists resulting in threes or shots at the rim than Dinwiddie (92.1%), according to PBPStats. The dude catalyzes highly valuable shots for others, and does so through advanced means.

Frichuela wrote:A positive (and detailed) take on what Dinwiddie brings to the table..

https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/the-catalyst-assessing-why-spencer-dinwiddie-should-be-coveted-nba-free-agent

Guys, this is a MUST read.

Whoever these people are, this is absolutely first-rate basketball analysis.

It makes a very persuasive case for him. Very.

Frichuela wrote:A positive (and detailed) take on what Dinwiddie brings to the table..

https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/the-catalyst-assessing-why-spencer-dinwiddie-should-be-coveted-nba-free-agent

Good article. An interesting snippet:

According to Synergy, only 11 players logged more isolation possessions than him in 2019-20. Despite the mammoth volume (205 possessions), he ranked in the 69th percentile in points per possession (0.951), which was seventh among the 12 players meeting that threshold. James Harden, Damian Lillard, Kawhi Leonard, Luka Doncic, Chris Paul and Jayson Tatum were the only players to finish above him. Dinwiddie blends both usage and production in a manner emulated by a select number of preeminent offensive orchestrators.

This is the stuff I'm talking about when I see he can bend a defense. Yes PIF, I know the stats say he has a TS% of .540 which is below league average, but you have to factor the shots he is taking. Having a guy who can score in isolation like that puts a floor on our half court efficiency. You move the ball and run the offense, and if nothing works out, just give it to Dinwiddie. And if the defense opts to put a weak defender on Dinwiddie, his shooting efficiency will rise. And if they put a good defender on him, then that's one less good defender to guard Brad.

Rafael122 wrote:If it becomes official, I think we lucked out b/c the Knicks used up all their cap space with the quickness, Pels moved onto Graham, Ball went to Chicago, and Dallas wasn't going to sign Dinwiddie after bringing back THJ.

I don’t think that’s luck.

I think those teams moved on, because they saw that the Wizards pounced and pounced hard (the first team to meet with him at 6:00, and in Los Angeles), and there was deep mutual interest — Spencer D had gone on record saying he was intrigued by playing with Beal, liked Hachimura’s developing game, saw a good fit.

So, not luck, no — planning.

Around $20 mil is fair considering the market. The biggest concerns are the injury history, the spotty 3 pt shooting and the defense but he could teach a master class at getting all the way to the rim off the bounce. He's a very good offensive player in spite of the inconsistent 3.

I do think he necessitates starting Gafford to cover up his defensive shortcomings.

Dat2U wrote:Around $20 mil is fair considering the market. The biggest concerns are the injury history, the spotty 3 pt shooting and the defense but he could teach a master class at getting all the way to the rim off the bounce. He's a very good offensive player in spite of the inconsistent 3.

I do think he necessitates starting Gafford to cover up his defensive shortcomings.

Wait. I thought defense and size were part of what he was bringing.

Don't worry about the contract.

Tommy Shepherd knows what he is doing.

I like Dinwiddie but the move isn't what I wanted. Perhaps this is a move that Bradley Beal strongly endorses.

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badinage wrote:

Frichuela wrote:A positive (and detailed) take on what Dinwiddie brings to the table..

https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/the-catalyst-assessing-why-spencer-dinwiddie-should-be-coveted-nba-free-agent

Guys, this is a MUST read.

Whoever these people are, this is absolutely first-rate basketball analysis.

It makes a very persuasive case for him. Very.

Thanks for the heads up and I am going to read it right now.

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I was souring on Dinwiddie, but in this market you can’t complain about 3 years, $60M. Hell, it’s a moveable contract if it doesn’t work out.

If healthy the backcourt is pretty much your Eastern Conference Equivalent of Dame/McCollum. Not that Din is anywhere near Dame but Beal is obviously better than McCollum. I think the trouble you'll find with how the Wizards roster is constructed is yes it helps to have 3 point shooters that can space the floor out but this team will continue to suffer defensively. Rui, Harrell, Kuzma, Bertans, Bryant, are not good interior defenders. I guess the goal will be to outscore everyone but we know how that has gone for them. I will say from Spence, Beal, Kispert, Bertans, Rui, Kuz, Harrell, Bryant, you have guys who can either shoot or score. Deni and Gafford are really the only guys who will be out there who aren't polished scorers.

ghsermon wrote:If healthy the backcourt is pretty much your Eastern Conference Equivalent of Dame/McCollum. Not that Din is anywhere near Dame but Beal is obviously better than McCollum. I think the trouble you'll find with how the Wizards roster is constructed is yes it helps to have 3 point shooters that can space the floor out but this team will continue to suffer defensively. Rui, Harrell, Kuzma, Bertans, Bryant, are not good interior defenders. I guess the goal will be to outscore everyone but we know how that has gone for them. I will say from Spence, Beal, Kispert, Bertans, Rui, Kuz, Harrell, Bryant, you have guys who can either shoot or score. Deni and Gafford are really the only guys who will be out there who aren't polished scorers.

The notion that the Wizards can't defend is outdated. The Wizards had the 7th best defense in the league over the last 50 games of the season. The only question is, how far does it fall when Lopez' minutes get replaced by Bryant. We can assume that Gafford will get more minutes, which will certainly help.

nate33 wrote:

Frichuela wrote:A positive (and detailed) take on what Dinwiddie brings to the table..

https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/the-catalyst-assessing-why-spencer-dinwiddie-should-be-coveted-nba-free-agent

Good article. An interesting snippet:

According to Synergy, only 11 players logged more isolation possessions than him in 2019-20. Despite the mammoth volume (205 possessions), he ranked in the 69th percentile in points per possession (0.951), which was seventh among the 12 players meeting that threshold. James Harden, Damian Lillard, Kawhi Leonard, Luka Doncic, Chris Paul and Jayson Tatum were the only players to finish above him. Dinwiddie blends both usage and production in a manner emulated by a select number of preeminent offensive orchestrators.

This is the stuff I'm talking about when I see he can bend a defense. Yes PIF, I know the stats say he has a TS% of .540 which is below league average, but you have to factor the shots he is taking. Having a guy who can score in isolation like that puts a floor on our half court efficiency. You move the ball and run the offense, and if nothing works out, just give it to Dinwiddie. And if the defense opts to put a weak defender on Dinwiddie, his shooting efficiency will rise. And if they put a good defender on him, then that's one less good defender to guard Brad.

I'm totally on board with this. I was wrong to object. Tommy has completely changed the context for assessing the team & "right" next moves. Took me a minute to catch up.

Moreover, I think Dinwiddie's effectiveness will likely go back to the high level of 16-17 & 17-18, given the scorers around him.

I wouldn't call Hachimura polished. He's still a long way from an effective offensive weapon but he seems to be a worker and could get there. However, he seems to be improving his defense which most of the other guys you mentioned as scorers aren't good at so my guess is he will be the main frontcourt starter again if he stays healthy.

Spencer might eventually be better than Bradley Beal when all is said and done.


https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/the-catalyst-assessing-why-spencer-dinwiddie-should-be-coveted-nba-free-agent

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penbeast0 wrote:I wouldn't call Hachimura polished. He's still a long way from an effective offensive weapon but he seems to be a worker and could get there. However, he seems to be improving his defense which most of the other guys you mentioned as scorers aren't good at so my guess is he will be the main frontcourt starter again if he stays healthy.

Agreed. Hachimura's defense is ahead of his offense at this point.