After failing to trade for a top point guard this offseason, the Phoenix Suns should consider Spencer Dinwiddie as a top trade target before the season starts.
With training camp less than a few weeks away, the Phoenix Suns still have plenty of question marks surrounding their roster. After trading away Brandon Knight to the Rockets, point guard moved to the top of this list.
While Knight was never an appealing solution to the lead guard problem, it was the only solution they had, as neither Shaquille Harrison or Élie Okobo are experienced enough for that role.
An intriguing option became running Devin Booker as the primary ball-handler, surrounded by complimentary players. However new Head Coach Igor Kokoskov spoke a few months ago on not wanting Booker at the point, as he is maximized through his scoring abilities and not playmaking.
Then this happened:
Suns guard Devin Booker underwent surgery to repair an injury to the fifth metacarpophalangeal joint in his right hand and will miss approximately six weeks.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 10, 2018
Now with Booker injured and expected to miss the first few games of the season, Phoenix Suns management should react accordingly and fill this hole at point, not only for the short-term, but for the duration of the season – and beyond.
The importance of a solid backcourt partner should increase with the injury as Kokoskov would be wise to slowly increase Booker’s workload following his return. He has pretty much carried the entire team over the past two years so making sure he slowly works his way back to that level again without aggravating his hand is vital.
The two most exciting traits of Dinwiddie’s game are his passing and size. Last season for the Nets, he averaged 6.6 assists per game and developed a strong connection with Jarrett Allen, something he could potentially develop here with rookie Deandre Ayton could. When near the paint, his length and finishing ability made defenses focus on stopping him, where he used his vision and lengthy arms to find a big man near the basket for an easy bucket.
He plays a very modern style of basketball, with almost 75% of his points coming from in the paint or three, per NBA.com/stats. As a quick, versatile playmaker that can guard multiple positions and put points on the board, he fits well into Kokoskov’s offense.
Dinwiddie occasionally became trigger-happy and tried to do too much scoring on his own with not the highest efficiency. But on the Phoenix Suns his role would be much more refined to his strengths and he would not be asked to do too much.
He would add size to the lineup, standing at 6′ 6″, and able to play off-ball as a spot up shooter when Booker is put in charge of running the offense.
With under $2 million owed to Dinwiddie going into his last season on contract, Phoenix will enjoy one of the most team-friendly deals in the Association. He has yet to turn 26, and could theoretically be a valuable piece for the team in the future.
Regardless of whether or not the team would hope to retain him for the future, it’s vital to have a legit starting point guard, and Spencer Dinwiddie could be that for the Suns. At the least, he could hold down the position while the team searches to trade for a higher value guard, or carry them over until next year’s draft. The time is now for the Phoenix Suns to pounce on a trade for a lead guard, and Spencer Dinwiddie should be a leading candidate.