The Nets are primed to contend next season. With Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant healthy, it would make sense to swap Spencer Dinwiddie — on the verge of a big payday next summer — for a better immediate fit. Richardson makes a great deal of sense, and could cost less to retain in 2021.
Richardson is an elite on-ball defender and someone who could capably start next to Irving in the backcourt, while Caris LeVert assumes sixth man duties. Or vice versa. On offense, Brooklyn is a much better home for Richardson. He wouldn’t need to create his own offense so frequently, inside deferring to Irving, Durant, and LeVert — all while maximizing his ability as a slasher and spot-up shooter.
For the Sixers, Dinwiddie provides a much-needed boost at the point guard spot. He’s comfortable creating from scratch and can help buoy the offense late in games. We have evidence of Dinwiddie has a bonafide closer. He only shot 30.8 percent from deep last season, but he attempted over six per game. More often than not, volume is more important than percentage.
Dinwiddie is not a perfect fit next to Embiid and Simmons, but he does have experience sharing the court with other playmakers — chiefly Irving and D’Angelo Russell. He should make it work with Simmons, who is expected to play more of a point forward role from here on out.
It’s never fun to make trades in-division, and some GMs are scared off by the potential consequences of seeing a former player four times a year. But for both Philadelphia and Brooklyn, this trade makes a great deal of sense.