The New York Knicks have plenty of money this upcoming off-season to find a few key role players for the future. There is a chance they look to retain some of their one-year players from the 2020–21 season, like Alec Burks, but they could roll that money over into new options with more upside.
One player who could represent a long-term solution and upgrade is Spencer Dinwiddie, whose contract is expiring with the Brooklyn Nets. Dinwiddie suffered a torn ACL in December, missing the majority of the season and the playoffs with the Nets, who were just eliminated on Saturday night.
At 28 years old, Spencer still has plenty of basketball left in his bones, but coming off a major injury, he might be looking for a one-year deal with a team like the Knicks.
In fact, the connection between Spencer and the Knicks could be a match made in heaven, considering he already has a residence in New York and would be a quick subway stop away from MSG.
With the front office looking for scorers with potential, Dinwiddie is only two years removed from a season where he averaged 20.6 points, 6.8 assists, and shot .415 from the field. While he’s not the most efficient three-point shooter, he offers consistency in multiple categories and is a pesky defender.
Last season, he averaged 6.7 points and 4.3 rebounds before suffering his season-ending injury. He plans to decline his $12.3 million player option, which will make him a free agent, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
This would be a great opportunity for President Leon Rose to steal a quality player off the market on a cheaper deal. Management desperately needs to improve the back-court, and the former Net can play multiple roles, including point guard and shooting guard. He has thrived in the past as a PG, but that shouldn’t deter the Knicks from spending on an elite player or at least bringing in Dinwiddie to compete with a younger alternative like Lonzo Ball.
I imagine Spencer will be looking for an opportunity to start next season, coming off an ACL tear. Providing him the opportunity to compete for starting reps might be enough to satisfy his needs. Staying in New York would be ideal, and I don’t think the injury will deter organizations from offering him a multi-year contract considering his age and past success. It is possible he looks to leverage a one-year deal into a long-term contract in 2022, but it all depends on how teams are valuing him.
While the Knicks do seem like a suitable destination, the Los Angeles Lakers are also interested in his services, having considered him in the past. There are plenty of plowing guards available on the market this summer, so the Knicks will have to pick and choose carefully who they want to be running their offense for the future.