Spencer Dinwiddie is back in Brooklyn — and so is her sense of humor.
Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith joined the Nets on Tuesday when they were acquired from the Mavericks in the trade that sent Kyrie Irving to Dallas. And when Dinwiddie, who played for the Nets from 2016-21, walked into his introductory press conference, he noted, “Hey, there’s more to you than ever.”
He explained the acquisition of himself and Finney-Smith: “I think we’re probably not the best trade package, but we look like the best. And the Nets need some help in that area.
Dinwiddie clearly retains the same intellect he flashed during his first stint in Brooklyn. In some ways, it was his torn ACL late in the 2020-21 season that put the Nets on the path they’re on. A season-ending injury marred the Nets’ trade for James Harden.
Dinwiddie was traded to Washington in August 2021, then moved to Dallas, and now he’s back where his transition to legitimate NBA starter began.
“It was crazy because we were rolling guys in the preseason, through the first couple games, I got hurt, then obviously the trade came down, makes sense. Being in the mood to win, when you Probably the greatest scorer of all time. It’s a blessing to play competitive basketball,” Dinwiddie said. “I’m not interested in losing basketball and I understand the kind of talent we have. Is.
“It’s going to be fun, and yes to a certain extent it’s a second bite at the apple. And even though I wanted to win one for Dallas, obviously a certain level to bring a championship to Brooklyn than any other organization in the league. Proud. … It would be even more proud to do it here, just because it made my career. So, proud to be back, happy to be back and always appreciated.
Phinney Smith — who grew up next to his freshman teammate Cam Thomas in Virginia, and said the net guard has always been “a bucket” — is a defensive-minded forward who can guard the 3-to-5.
“I aim to protect the best player on the court, I take the challenge,” Finney-Smith said. “You don’t have to make plays for me. I’m going to find ways to get involved and be aggressive. Just a winning mentality, I’m going to bring that to the team.”
Dinwiddie snapped at Finney Smith:[He] Carries the full court, guards great, shoots 3-40 percent in a typical year, colorful, athletic. I’ve never met a man he couldn’t protect… except me.”
Cam Thomas, after scoring 43 points in the Nets’ 116-112 loss to the Suns on Tuesday night, became the youngest player in NBA history to score 40 or more points in three consecutive games at 21 years, 117 days. There are players. He is the first player in Nets’ NBA history to finish in the top 40 in three consecutive seasons.
Ben Simmons returned to the Nets’ lineup after missing the previous five games with a strained left knee, but he was extremely nervous.
He played 26:30, but only scored two points. He finished with four rebounds and six assists, but turned the ball over four times.
The Nets acquired the draft rights to 28-year-old David McNeo from the Kings in exchange for Kessler-Edwards and cash. Michineau, who was drafted by the Pelicans in the second round in 2016, plays for Napoli Basket in Italy’s Liga Basket Serie A.
Two-way David Duke Jr. will compete in the G-League Next Up Game on February 19 (3 p.m.) during All-Star Weekend.
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