The Dallas Mavericks have finalized their roster by signing Spencer Dinwiddie, who returns to the team after a season and a half away. Dinwiddie, previously with the Mavericks, opted to rejoin them rather than returning to the Los Angeles Lakers, according to Shams Charania.
“This is a significant acquisition for the Mavericks late in the summer. Dinwiddie has proven to be an excellent fit alongside Luka Doncic. The Lakers were interested in bringing Dinwiddie back, but they are facing a roster crunch with their 15 roster spots.”
The Lakers have struggled this offseason to create space for new signings or to attract top talent to their team. Klay Thompson chose the Mavericks over a higher offer from the Lakers. Additionally, the Lakers did not offer starting positions to Buddy Hield and Gary Trent Jr., who signed elsewhere, and made no serious effort to sign DeMar DeRozan, ultimately losing Dinwiddie to the Mavericks.
The Lakers shouldn’t be too concerned about losing Dinwiddie, as he was not a key player for them last season, averaging 6.8 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists over 28 games. He returns to the Mavericks where he will play a crucial role off the bench, much like during their 2022 Western Conference Finals run.
BREAKING NEWS: "Spencer Dinwiddie is signing with the Dallas Mavericks" ~ @ShamsCharania #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/KwBNfIM6GA
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) July 22, 2024
Earlier in 2024, Dinwiddie had to choose between the Lakers and Mavericks as both teams pursued him aggressively in the buyout market. He chose the Lakers, citing an unusual justification: “Let’s say you’re a kid and you get your ass whooped by the bully. Dallas would have been like your mama, like, ‘It’s OK, baby.’ … Lakers are like your dad: ‘Nah, you better go out there and fight ‘til you win.’” This decision proved to be a mistake, leading Dinwiddie to return to the Mavericks where he previously averaged 17.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists.
Dinwiddie hopes to seamlessly fit back into the Mavericks, with familiar faces like coach Jason Kidd and star player Luka Doncic. He was a strong offensive complement to Doncic and is expected to thrive as a bench guard, likely playing over Jaden Hardy.
