Toronto Raptors: Is Fred VanVleet the best back-up point guard in the NBA?

Toronto Raptors - Fred VanVleet (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
Toronto Raptors - Fred VanVleet (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors – Norman Powell (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

3. Spencer Dinwiddie

Another player who just seems to keep improving year after year is Spencer Dinwiddie of the Brooklyn Nets. If the past two seasons have taught us one thing, it’s that the Nets were right to keep ahold of Dinwiddie and move on from D’Angelo Russell, the former has proven to be the far superior talent so far in his career.

Dinwiddie, if not for the superstar breakout of Victor Oladipo, would have been a prime winner for the Most Improved Player of the Year award in 2017-18. This past season, he once again proved his value for the Nets, despite finding himself playing a back-up role once more.

After starting in 58 games for the Nets two years ago, Dinwiddie transitioned back into the role of the back-up point guard and excelled once again, averaging 16.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game, playing in 68 games. Unlike Morris, Dinwiddie carried over his regular-season form into the playoffs, despite only playing in one series, averaging 14.6 points per game.

A somewhat streaky shooter, Dinwiddie can take a backseat in a Nets offense that lives and dies by the three-pointer. If he can become a consistent shooter, the Nets will be an even more dangerous team than already touted.

At this point, Dinwiddie is a perennial outside contender for Sixth Man of the Year, which only strengthens his position as one of the best back-ups in the league.