The Brooklyn Nets will be without one of their most crucial pieces as they travel to play out the remainder of the 2019-20 season at Disney World. The Nets were already down stars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, as well as DeAndre Jordan who announced he would be sitting out after testing positive for COVID-19. Brooklyn will now be down guard Spencer Dinwiddie, who announced Tuesday that he has also decided to opt out of the remainder of the season.
Dinwiddie tested positive for the coronavirus along with Jordan last week, but has been symptomatic. When his diagnosis was originally announced, Dinwiddie said it was “unclear” on if he would play in Orlando, but after a second positive test yesterday, the Nets’ team doctors decided he shouldn’t participate out of an abundance of caution.
“After another positive test yesterday, and considering the symptoms, the Brooklyn Nets, teams doctors and I have decided that it would be in the best interest for me and the team that I do not play in Orlando,” Dinwiddie wrote wrote on Twitter. “I will be supporting the guys every step of the way.”
Dinwiddie was having a career year for the Nets, averaging 20.6 points in the absence of Irving in the backcourt. Without Dinwiddie, Brooklyn’s depth heading into Orlando is slimmer than ever, as it will also be without Wilson Chandler and Nicolas Claxton. However, the Nets won’t be completely depleted. The focal point of the offense will now shift to Caris LeVert, who was averaging 17.7 points before the hiatus. Additionally, sharpshooter Joe Harris — who was shooting 3s at a 41.2 percent clip before the layoff — will still be in the lineup, as well as Taurean Waller-Prince and Jarrett Allen.
The Nets have already added Justin Anderson and Tyler Johnson during the transaction window to fill empty roster spots, and with Dinwiddie sitting out, will have another vacant spot to add another player. The Nets currently sit in the No. 7 spot in the East standings, with only 1/2 game separating them and the Orlando Magic, who they play twice in Orlando. Without Dinwiddie running the show, holding onto that No. 7 spot will become increasingly hard with the Magic right on their tail.
