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[DanSchwartzgan]

Highly misleading when you are lumping in Dinwiddie's primary ball handler role in WAS vs Brunson's role as a secondary ball handler. Dinwiddie had a lower Assist % than Brunson when he joined the Mavs despite his role being mainly a distributor vs Brunson's scorer role.

In the 7 games he started for the Mavs (small sample size), he had an assist % of 20%. Compare that to Brunson's 24% when he started 61 games. 

When you compare Brunson's assist numbers to other "secondary ball handlers," he's elite, especially when you factor in his low turnover numbers. 

It's not easy playing next to Luka, arguably the most ball dominant player in the league. Can Dinwiddie do that at a high level for a full season with great success?  

Even if the passing is similar (I think Brunson's better), Brunson is better than Dinwiddie at every other facet of offense. Isn't that the more important part, playing off-ball to Luka? 
 

You are correct.  The assist percentage I quoted was full season and benefits from the 27.5 he produced in DC.  Dinwiddie produced Assist percentages of 35, 25 and 35 the three seasons prior to that.  His career average is 29.2 compared to 23.6 for JB.  If we are making a prediction for the next season about whether someone can replace the 24 Brunson put up last season, I'll take the guy with a career average five percentage points higher.

Also, the numbers don't agree on the "every other facet" of offense statement.  In Dallas (which is the boundary you selected) Dinwiddie put up 20 points per 36 compared to 18.3 for Brunson.  SD hit .404 of his 3's compared to .373 from JB.  Their overall FG% was a wash at .502 to .498, but SD has the higher TS% .624 to .583 because he gets twice as many FT attempts per minute played.  Dinwiddie has the higher PER, WS/48, Box +/- and a higher Net Rating and Simple Rating (82Games.com).  

I'm sure the next thing that will happen is someone will produce a half dozen compilation stats that show Brunson is better.  I'll direct you to VORP and EPM for starters.  I'm not trying to prove JB is a bad player or that Dinwiddie is better than him.  I'm trying to disprove your statement that Brunson is better in "every other facet" of offense (which I think I've done admirably).  And now I have to go take a shower to wash off the stench of saying negative things about JB.

I think if you have to replace JB (and recall it wasn't our choice that he left), Dinwiddie does the job fairly well.  He'll benefit from the addition of Wood and the return of THJ.  What we haven't done, and should be concerned about, is that we haven't replaced the role Dinwiddie played off the bench.