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Dinwiddie fell short of potential in 2015-16

By Chris Crowder

Apr 12, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Spencer Dinwiddie (8) is defended by Miami Heat guard Josh Richardson (0) during the fourth quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Heat win 99-93. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 12, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Spencer Dinwiddie (8) is defended by Miami Heat guard Josh Richardson (0) during the fourth quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Heat win 99-93. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Detroit Pistons’ season is over which means it’s time to evaluate how the players performed over the course of 2015-2016. We continue our player profiles with Spencer Dinwiddie.

Who: Spencer Dinwiddie, Point Guard

2015-2015 Stats: 4.8 ppg, 1.8 assists, 1.4 rebounds, 0.6 turnovers, 13.3 minutes per game, 12 games played

Stan Van Gundy’s first draft pick with Detroit, Spencer Dinwiddie, is still hoping to catch a break. The point guard, battling injuries since his junior season at Colorado, suffered another ailment when he sprained his ankle while in the D-League.

Dinwiddie was supposed to be a first round draft pick, a possible starter in the league, and even after those expectations faded away, the Pistons were hoping he could develop into their second-team point guard. He played behind Steve Blake for the No. 2 point guard spot in the beginning of the season, struggling to earn minutes. When Brandon Jennings returned from injury, Dinwiddie was unneeded, and was sent to the D-League to rack up some valuable playing time.

He was sent and recalled from the Grand Rapids Drive four times over the season as he played 13 games for the Drive, averaging 14.7 points, 6.0 assists, and 3.5 rebounds. He spent the most time in the D-League among the Pistons sent on assignment, compared to Reggie Bullock and Jennings (one game each) and Darrun Hilliard (three games).

After all, Dinwiddie played just 12 games in a Pistons uniform this past season. His performances along with his bad luck in attempting to stay healthy has hampered his potential and any promise he displayed in the 2014-15 season that he may be able to play behind Reggie Jackson to expand the Pistons’ youthful bunch of contributors. But the veteran Blake was brought in to fill the role that Dinwiddie wanted, and now that Blake outperformed Dinwiddie and that a new backup point guard may be brought from free agency, Dinwiddie may be out of Detroit.

In Dinwiddie’s second game of the season in November against the Lakers, he showed promise, tallying 17 points and four assists in nearly 24 minutes. In the four subsequent games, he averaged 16.8 minutes, but averaged just 4.75 points and two assists. Before the last day of the regular season, he made five more appearances, mostly in garbage time. On the last game of the regular season, he had one last hurrah, helping the Pistons to victory by putting up 12 points in 29 minutes.

2016-2017 outlook: The Pistons have a team-option on Dinwiddie’s initial three-year contract, and must decide on what to do with him this summer. Van Gundy wanted Dinwiddie to show that he was capable of being the backup point guard this season, but unfortunately due to injuries along with the Pistons making a playoff push, Dinwiddie wasn’t able to prove himself worthy of that spot in the rotation. The Pistons may look elsewhere for a viable backup point guard.

Dinwiddie played just over one minute in the first round of the playoffs game two loss to Cleveland. That very may well have been the last time Pistons fans saw Dinwiddie with Detroit on the front of his jersey.

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