New York City is the mecca of basketball. It’s the game’s cultural hub. Moreover, it’s one of two cities in the NBA that has two teams. New York has enough space to host both the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets.
Still, the city belongs to the Knicks until further notice. They were the better team in 2022-23. More broadly, they’re woven into the city’s fabric. The Knicks are one of the NBA’s original teams, while the Nets are one of the league’s newest.
With that said, you can’t blame it on a lack of effort on the Nets’ part. This team recently had Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving on it. The Nets wanted to lay siege to New York. It didn’t work, and now, the Nets are in a confusing place. They’re lacking top-end talent, but they’ve got a lot of assets. Could they land more assets by sending Spencer Dinwiddie to the Knicks?
The Trade Proposal
Brooklyn Nets Receive: G/F Evan Fournier, 2024 Second-Round Pick (MIA via NYK), 2024 Second-Round Pick (DET via NYK), 2025 Second-Round Pick (BKN via NYK)
New York Knicks Receive: G Spencer Dinwiddie
In fact, there are plenty of parallels between these organizations. The Nets took a certain route by trying to build a super team. Realistically, it was the same route that the Knicks wanted to take.
When Durant and Irving signed with Brooklyn, they were rumored to be considering New York. The rumor mill got the city right – they just got the organization wrong. The rest is history. The Nets acquired Durant and Irving – briefly. Now, they’re gone.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Spencer Dinwiddie, New York Knicks & Brooklyn Nets Updates
In their wake, the Nets roster a deep team full of quality defenders. Mikal Bridges, as it currently stands, is their best player. Can he do enough to carry this team? Should the Nets operate as contenders, or as a rebuilding squad? Should they make this deal either way?
Why The Brooklyn Nets Do The Deal
We think so. Some Nets fans will disagree. This deal makes them worse at the moment. That’s not ideal for the Nets. They owe their next first-round pick to the Houston Rockets. Shouldn’t they exclusively be making win-now moves?
Frankly, no. It’s possible that Brooklyn will send the Rockets a low lottery pick next summer. That may not be ideal, but it’s not the end of the world. The Nets aren’t winning a title anyway. Committing to the middle just to avoid helping the Rockets would be a mistake. The Nets should be focused on accumulating assets where they can.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Spencer Dinwiddie, New York Knicks & Brooklyn Nets Updates
In other words, they should be planning to flip a switch. The Nets should be looking to trade for a superstar. They’ll need assets to do it. Here, they’re flipping Dinwiddie for an expiring contract and three second-round picks. Should the Knicks give that much up for Dinwiddie?
Why The New York Knicks Do The Deal
On the other hand, the Knicks should be approaching their summer differently. This team made a run to the second round of the NBA playoffs this year. The Knicks are a win-now trade, and this is a win-now move.
In all likelihood, they’d be acquiring their sixth man here. Jalen Brunson obviously has the starting point guard position locked down in New York. At the same time, this pair had good chemistry together on the Dallas Mavericks. They can share the floor for stretches, and Dinwiddie can carry the offense when Brunson sits.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Spencer Dinwiddie, New York Knicks & Brooklyn Nets Updates
Finally, Fournier is seemingly unhappy with his role in New York. With that in mind, moving him should bode well for the Knicks’ chemistry in 2022-23. After all, this team will have high expectations next season: most of New York will be behind them.
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