Before the 2016-2017 season, the Brooklyn Nets decided to give Spencer Dinwiddie a chance.

Despite the fact that he averaged 4.8 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 13.3 minutes over just 12 contests for the Detroit Pistons in 2015-2016 and spent time in the G-League that season, Brooklyn saw something in him.

Now midway through his second season with the club, he has been one of the best surprises of this NBA season.

Piggybacking off of his debut season with the team in which he averaged 7.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 22.6 minutes, Dinwiddie is averaging 13.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists per contest and has emerged as the rebuilding team's go-to scorer in the fourth quarter.

To add to his value, the 24-year-old point guard’s contract is extremely cheap for the Nets. In fact, he’s making just over $1.5 million this season and is slated to make just over $1.6 million next season before hitting unrestricted free agency.

Since D’Angelo Russell is slowly regaining his health and Jeremy Lin recently accepted his player option for next season, it became possible that Brooklyn could decide to sell high on Dinwiddie before the trade deadline passed. After all, he had taken advantage of his situation with both point guards out and picked up some extra usage along the way which could have inflated his numbers over what they could be in the future.

Before the deadline, he was prepared to move to a new club if he was dealt.

“The great part about this organization is that Sean Marks and Kenny [Atkinson] are always going to be diligent in the process, trying to improve the team not only by thinking about now, but thinking long-term,” Dinwiddie told Anthony Puccio of NetsDaily. “And you have to respect that whichever way that happens. Obviously I was a beneficiary of that last year. If I’m moved, I’m moved. That’s just the way it goes.”

“With the way everything has gone, Brooklyn is home,” said Dinwiddie. “But I also understand the business of basketball and the way the NBA works. Anything can happen at any time, so you just have to be prepared and act professional as possible.”

In what will certainly be a major boost to his confidence, Zach Lowe of ESPN reported that not only was Dinwiddie almost traded, but a team offered quite a bit for him.

“One little wrinkle about who the Cavs chased with their first round pick. The Cavs had talks with the Nets about Spencer Dinwiddie. Like ... would the Nets take our pick for Dinwiddie. The Nets wanted a LOT for Dinwiddie. I love the thinking though. A) Dinwiddie has been pretty good, fills a need and B) take him off the Nets and what does that do for the Nets’ pick that we own,” Lowe said on his podcast. 

In the end, the Nets declined Cleveland’s offer which was another vote of confidence for Dinwiddie, who might have already etched his name into the team’s future plans.