Apr 25, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Spencer Dinwiddie (26) moves the ball ahead of Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun (0) during the second half in game three of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports / Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Unrestricted free agent combo guard Spencer Dinwiddie, who signed with his hometown Los Angeles Lakers to close out the 2023-24 season after being traded to the Toronto Raptors and quickly waived, is now ditching L.A. for greener pastures.
Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reports that the 6-foot-6 guard will make a one-season return to the Dallas Mavericks. The agreement’s terms are still unknown. Dinwiddie was a key member of the team that advanced to the Western Conference Finals in 2022, as noted by Charania. Midway through the 2021–22 season, Dinwiddie was traded from the Washington Wizards to the Mavericks as part of the team’s agreement to let go of centre Kristaps Porzingis. The next season, he was a part of the trade that saw Dallas acquire All-Star Kyrie Irving from the Brooklyn Nets.
During his second season in Dallas, 2022-23, Dinwiddie averaged 17.7 points on a .455/.405/.821 slash line, 5.3 assists, 31. rebounds and 0.7 steals a night across 53 contests.
An alum of Taft High School in Woodland Hills, the Colorado product had a miserable offensive run with the Lakers in 2023-24 as essentially a replacement for Gabe Vincent, who had missed most of the season with a left knee effusion and was essentially rehabbing that injury while playing through it in the postseason.
Across 28 regular season games for Los Angeles (four starts), Dinwiddie averaged 6.8 points while slashing .397/.389/.880, 2.4 assists, 1.7 rebounds, 0.5 steals and 0.5 blocks. His output got more minimal during the playoffs, when he saw his minutes cut to just 14.6 as Vincent took on more of a role and Dinwiddie’s jumper abandoned him. He averaged just 3.0 points on a .357/.250/.500 slash line, 1.6 assists, and 1.4 rebounds.
Dinwiddie’s departure isn’t exactly a major surprise. With Vincent expected to be healthy next season, it makes sense that he will return to at least a reserve point guard role ahead of Dinwiddie. Vincent is a better point-of-attack defender, and though his offense abandoned him, too, last year, the Lakers are no doubt hoping he can right that ship next year.
