LOS ANGELES — Spencer Dinwiddie broke out of his slump on this West Coast trip.
It’s complete coincidence that the Los Angeles native is reportedly wanted by his hometown Lakers in a trade.
The Post had reported that teams had checked in with the Nets on their point guard’s availability.
Now Matt Moore of Hardwood Paroxysm wrote that Dinwiddie is “known” to be on the Lakers’ radar.
He also cited the Nets as being “among the teams with interest” in Toronto wing Gary Trent Jr.
Dinwiddie had 16 points and seven assists in Sunday’s crushing loss to the Clippers.
He’s averaged 18 points and six assists over his last three games, after mustering just 3.3 points and three assists in the three before that on horrid 3-for-15 shooting, 2 of 12 from deep.
Part of that resurgence is Dinwiddie getting back to playing downhill and attacking the paint.
“Oh, I think for me, its always going to be performance-based and the ability to consistently do it,” coach Jacque Vaughn said. “Do we want him to continue to do it on a nightly basis? Yes. Is he encouraged to do that on a nightly basis? Yes. Does he have the ability to do it? Yes.
“So he gets a choice and an opportunity to do it again. Would I love to see him turn the corner and get downhill and put pressure on the rim every single possession, every single night? From a coaching perspective: Yes, it makes us a better team.”
With an $18.9 million expiring deal, Dinwiddie is believed to be open to signing an extension.
He’s been linked in reports as a potential piece in any trade the Nets make for Dejounte Murray.
The Hawks’ All-Star makes $17 million this year with a four-year, $114 million kicking in next season.
Ben Simmons was on the trip with the Nets.
Even though he didn’t play, Vaughn saw value in him just being around the team.
“I think just being able to be around at shootaround, being able to be in the film [review Saturday]. All those things matter as he starts to transition his way to being back on the floor, so that gap isn’t so huge for him,” Vaughn said.
“Whether it’s different plays that we’re running from last time that he was in, whether it’s different schemes that we were running, if you aren’t around that it can be a lot when he does return. So overall just being able to be around the group and absorb some of that terminology and knowledge is best for us.”
Vaughn was coy about exactly what the next hurdle is for Simmons.
“I’m not gonna give you a step-by-step. He’ll move on to that next step, which will be when we get home he’ll get examined again after this long five-hour flight and see how he responds to another week of basketball.”
The Nets will get an update on Day’Ron Sharpe (knee) when they return home.
They face the Knicks on Tuesday, with Sharpe’s status presumably clearer by then.
“Yeah, hopefully,” Vaughn said. “We miss Day’Ron. I told that to our group the other day. Miss hearing him on the bus, miss hearing him in the locker room. So look forward to seeing the big fella when we get back home.”