Recently waived guard could be perfect Malcolm Brogdon replacement for Knicks

Malcolm Brogdon’s sudden retirement left New York Knicks fans in shock. 

New York looked poised to start the season with the wry, oft-injured veteran as the backup playmaker. Nobody expected the team to have to fill this role again, especially this late in the offseason. They now need a steady, experienced ball-handler to share shot-creation duties with Jalen Brunson. 

Less than 24 hours after Brogdon’s announcement, Spencer Dinwiddie was waived by the Charlotte Hornets and is looking for a new team. Dinwiddie, 32, brings size and versatility that New York suddenly lacks. At 6-foot-5, he’s a downhill driver who can initiate offense, run pick-and-rolls, guard up in team defensive sets and go on a heater when needed. His ability to get into the teeth made him an ideal complement to Brunson’s midrange craft and scoring gravity during their brief time together on the Dallas Mavericks.

Much has been made about New York’s offense stalling when Brunson sat during last season’s playoff run. Brogdon was supposed to fix that under new Knicks head coach Mike Brown's read-and-react system. Over nine seasons, Brogdon was a stabilizing, low-turnover guard who could organize the second unit. Dinwiddie isn’t as efficient or surgical as Brogdon, but he’s built for big moments. Across 33 career playoff games, he’s averaged 12.5 points and 3.3 assists while playing for high-stakes teams in Brooklyn and Dallas.

During Dallas’ 2022 Western Conference Finals run, Dinwiddie delivered crucial scoring bursts off the bench, including 30 points in a closeout win over Phoenix. He’s shown he can coexist with high-usage stars, having played next to Brunson and Luka Doncic without disrupting offensive rhythm. 

Spencer Dinwiddie has appealing cost and contract flexibility

What makes Dinwiddie especially appealing is his cost and contract flexibility. A one-year veteran minimum preserves New York’s financial room against the second apron while keeping the Knicks' options open on whether to make a corresponding trade of Tyler Kolek or Pacome Dadiet to sign Landry Shamet or Garrison Mathews. He’s a short-term addition that keeps the Knicks competitive without handcuffing them past this season.

Outspoken and cerebral, Dinwiddie's been a hated opponent for Knicks fans. He would bring that chippy personality that Cameron Payne brought last season. Miles McBride’s defensive chops are elite, but his ability to playmake for others is still catching up. Dinwiddie bridges that gap, providing an immediate upgrade while easing pressure on McBride to handle backup off-guard duties full-time.

Brogdon’s exit doesn’t have to derail the Knicks' backcourt depth. Dinwiddie represents a logical, low-risk response, embracing big stages and thriving in motion-heavy, guard-driven systems. For a front office that’s been calculated with every move, adding Dinwiddie could be the smartest pivot yet.

If Knicks president of basketball operations Leon Rose signs Dinwiddie, he will have the inside track on his commitment from former teammates Brunson (Dallas), Mikal Bridges (Brooklyn) and Casey Smith, the former Mavs athletic trainer now with the Knicks.