Dinwiddie searching for role on injury-riddled roster

The Nets have had very little stability this season, a product of losing significant players to injury on an almost daily basis.

But they also seem to be in the process of determining how best to use Spencer Dinwiddie, who had immediate success when he was traded back to Brooklyn last season and has so far not provided the same production this year, playing more off the ball than a year ago.

Head coach Jacque Vaughn said after Sunday’s win over Washington, the veteran guard was “still wrapping his head around how he fits into the different lineups.”

In his nine games played this year, Dinwiddie is averaging only 8.4 field goal attempts per game, down from 13.3 last season.

His points per game have also decreased from 16.5 to 10.7 and his assists have dropped from 9.1 in 26 games with the Nets following his arrival in February to 4.8 this season.

Vaughn has looked to spread out minutes more this season, which has played a role in Dinwiddie’s slightly decreased usage, but Vaughn said Dinwiddie’s versatility will prove valuable as the season progresses.

“It’s a luxury for me to have Spencer on the floor because he can handle the basketball, even at the end of the game to make free throws,’’ Vaughn said after Sunday’s win. “In an ideal world, he’s doing both. I think he has the ability to do both and [Sunday] we wanted to take advantage of some matchups at the end of the game. He was a big part of orchestrating that.”

Brooklyn will need Dinwiddie to play a significant role regardless of who is healthy, but so much of the Nets’ future rides on the health of Ben Simmons, who has missed the past three games with a left hip contusion.

As Vaughn moves the pieces around, he’ll look to Dinwiddie in a variety of spaces.

“Spencer really has the versatility to play in each of the lineups we put out on the floor because he can shoot the 3, especially from spot-up,” Vaughn said. “Because he can be the lead guard when need be with a small group or a big group.”

Dinwiddie hit a pair of free throws to put Sunday’s game away, but has struggled from the field for much of the past four games.

“He’s still wrapping his head around how he fits into the different lineups he’s been in, which is definitely understandable,’’ Vaughn said. “But that’s a part of growing together as a team. We’ll continue to learn about the best position to put him in. But he has an extreme ability to impact second group, first group, small and big lineup.’’