If the Brooklyn Nets and point guard Spencer Dinwiddie can agree to a handshake deal at the start of free agency next summer, the organization may be more likely to let D'Angelo Russell walk in free agency, according to Michael Scotto of The Athletic.
D'Angelo Russell will enter restricted free agency in the summer of 2019 if Brooklyn offers him a $9.16 million qualifying offer. The Nets acquired Russell from the Los Angeles Lakers in the summer of 2017. In 13 games this season, Russell is averaging 15.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists while shooting 40.9 percent from the field, 36.4 percent from beyond the arc and 80.0 percent from the free-throw line.
Spencer Dinwiddie comes off the bench for the Nets, but he has proven to be a more efficient player and requires less maintenance than D'Angelo Russell.
Dinwiddie is averaging 13.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists through 13 games this year. The 25-year-old is shooting 47.1 percent from the floor, 40.6 percent from the 3-point line and 80.6 percent from the charity stripe.
The other factor in the Nets’ Russell equation is teammate Spencer Dinwiddie, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. The 25-year-old guard has a $1.6 million cap hold and the Nets own his Bird Rights, meaning Brooklyn can use its cap room on other free agents and then re-sign him to a new deal this summer. If the Nets and Dinwiddie’s agent, Raymond Brothers, can agree to a handshake deal at the start of free agency, the Nets may be more likely to let Russell walk in free agency.
The Nets are prioritizing cap space for the summer of 2019 when they’ll potentially have money to sign two max contract players. D'Angelo Russell and the Nets didn't have any discussions on a contract extension over the offseason.
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