The Washington Wizards are in the early stages of a full rebuild. Fans are dreaming of drafting Cooper Flagg and thinking about what they can get for veterans before the trade deadline. The focus is not on winning games, but they are in a better position than the Bradley Beal days.
Washington made the playoffs in 2021 and tried to improve their roster around Beal the following offseason. They acquired Spencer Dinwiddie and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as part of a massive five-team trade. KCP had just won a championship with the Lakers, and Dinwiddie was a solid veteran point guard to run their offense. The 6’5 ball-handler had just recovered from a torn ACL, but the pieces were present for the Wizards to make the playoffs.
Things quickly went sour as Dinwiddie detailed after his exit. Mavericks supporters are figuring out why Washington fans got fed up with the point guard.
Wizards fans know the Spencer Dinwiddie experience too well
Dallas signed Spencer Dinwiddie to a veteran minimum contract for this season. He helped the Mavs reach the conference finals in 2022 playing off Luka Doncic and Jalen Brunson. Fans thought they were getting that version, but Dinwiddie has been forced to step up with Luka and Kyrie Irving sidelined. Having him as the team’s primary playmaker is problematic.
Mavericks fans saw it in their loss to the Pelicans on Wednesday night. Dinwiddie had 20 points, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals, but Dallas lost his minutes. He made just six of his 17 field goal attempts and was asked to do too much down the stretch.
Spencer Dinwiddie takeover mode doesn’t work.
— Jordan Ennis (@JEnnisNBADraft) January 16, 2025
Spencer Dinwiddie on a some real bull sh*t in these last 5 possessions 😂 #MFFL
— Kevin Gray Jr. (@KevinGraySports) January 16, 2025
The 31-year-old overdribbled on several possessions and was not running the offense. With six minutes remaining in the fourth, the Mavs had a seven-point edge but ended up losing by three. Dinwiddie had a layup blocked that would have given Dallas the lead in the final seconds, which should have been called a goaltend, but the missed call did little to change fans' feelings about his performance.
For the season, Dinwiddie averages 9.9 points, 3.7 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 0.9 steals in 24.3 minutes per game. He is shooting just 38.9 percent from the field and 33.1 percent on his 3-point tries. The 6’5 guard keeps playing like his Washington days when he was just months off ACL surgery. It has not been pretty as Dallas is 5.7 points per 100 possessions better with him off the floor.
Wizards fans know the story. There are defensive concerns, shot selection issues, and an overreliance on getting his looks. It is frustrating. Dinwiddie has helped the Mavericks win a few games this season, but he has hurt them in others.
The Washington Wizards traded Spencer Dinwiddie to Dallas at the 2022 trade deadline. He played just 44 games with the franchise before they moved on. The Mavericks may dump him if they can find an upgrade before Feb. 6. Fans are certainly getting fed up with his issues, which have caused him to bounce around in recent years.
There will be no reunion in the nation’s capital as the Wizards rebuild. Fans will be rooting for losses but should keep an eye on the Dinwiddie situation in Dallas. It has been a problem, especially as their stars have missed time.