Spencer Dinwiddie of the Brooklyn Nets has been sidelined throughout the year after suffering a partial ACL tear back in December. The Nets guard wasn't originally due to come back until next season. However, according to NY Daily News, if Brooklyn makes it to the NBA Finals, Dinwiddie hopes to return to make an impact for the championship round.
He was going to play a vital role in the Nets' rotation had he not fallen to injury, but because he's been sidelined all year, the front office was speculated to trade Dinwiddie at one point as well. They either couldn't find a trade partner, or the reports were false. Either way, Dinwiddie is still a part of the team and could be a key piece of the rotation again.
Dinwiddie has steadily improved each year of his career and was in for a huge season before he fell to injury. The 2020 campaign was his best statistical year to date averaging 20.6 points, 6.8 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game.
The Nets finished the regular season in second place after going 48-24. After acquiring the likes of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, James Harden, and Blake Griffin, the Nets might not even need Dinwiddie in their lineup. Joe Harris has served as a solid three-point shooter, while the coaching staff has given Nicolas Claxton more playing time after trading away Jarrett Allen.
Even so, the Nets have dealt with the injury bug throughout the year. Durant, Irving, and Harden have spent minimal time playing together, as they've struggled with either injury or sat out for personal reasons. Brooklyn has looked solid so far in the playoffs, but the team is still a bit banged up.
James Harden and Jeff Green have been sidelined the last two games, exposing the Nets' lack of depth. They've still managed to go up 2-1 against the Milwaukee Bucks in their current series. However, the deep they go into the postseason, the more difficult their opponents become.
Due to the lack of depth behind the starting lineup, the Brooklyn Nets should welcome Spencer Dinwiddie back into the rotation if they make the NBA Finals, especially if he is truly healthy and ready to go. Dinwiddie is capable of playing both guard positions and has the ability to consistently get buckets.
He may not receive a large number of minutes, as Brooklyn should treat Dinwiddie with care. He's been out for six months so it may take a moment for him to get back into the swing of things. With that said, Dinwiddie still has the potential to be the difference-maker for the Nets' chances of winning the championship.
Another reason it might be a great idea to bring Dinwiddie back in the Finals is it could generate more interest in him from other teams in the league. As previously mentioned, the Nets nearly traded him away before the deadline. If he comes back and provides solid production, a rebuilding team could become interested and make an offer the Nets would accept.
There are too many positives for the Nets not to welcome Spencer Dinwiddie back if he's cleared to play, as the only real negative is he could potentially re-injure himself. That would put the Nets back right back to their current state which is still dominant, while also driving his trade value down as well. At the end of the day, it's about winning a championship in Brooklyn, and Dinwiddie can help do just that.
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