Spencer Dinwiddie Trade Rumors: Heat, Pistons, More Interested in Nets Guard

The Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat are reportedly among the group of teams that have expressed interest in Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie ahead of the 2021 NBA trade deadline on March 25.

SNY's Ian Begley reported Thursday that Dinwiddie is viewed as the Nets' "most valuable trade chip" despite his uncertain status for the remainder of the 2020-21 season after suffering a partial ACL tear in December.

The Dinwiddie situation is tough to forecast with a week until the deadline because there are multiple variables in play.

Along with his injury, he also owns a player option for the 2021-22 season as part of his three-year, $34.4 million contract with the Nets that he could exercise to become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason.

Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported the 27-year-old Los Angeles native is "unlikely to agree to an extension" and is destined to test the free-agent market.

So it's fair to wonder whether interested teams would be willing to deal anything of significance for a player who may not play again for the rest of the season before opting out of his contract. Expiring deals do carry value, but not as much for a guard who's previously played at an All-Star level.

In addition, Begley noted it's "unknown" whether the Nets will even consider offers for Dinwiddie.

The University of Colorado product averaged a career-high 20.6 points for Brooklyn last season while often serving as the team's go-to scoring option with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving dealing with injuries. He also put up 6.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game in 2019-20.

His role was reduced to open the current campaign following the returns of Durant and Irving. After Dinwiddie played only three games this season before getting injured, the Nets further upgraded their roster with the blockbuster acquisition of James Harden from the Houston Rockets in January.

All three of those superstars remain under contract for next season, so it's not clear how much playing time or how many offensive touches would be available for Dinwiddie even if he did return.

In turn, it would make sense for the Nets to at least explore trade avenues involving the 2014 second-round pick, ideally for a proven wing defender, ahead of the deadline.