Spencer Dinwiddie, a free agency guard, signed with the Los Angeles Lakers after clearing waivers on Saturday, the organization said.
Dinwiddie, a 30-year-old Los Angeles native, was dealt from the Brooklyn Nets to the Raptors for Dennis Schroder and Thaddeus Young on Thursday before being dismissed by Toronto. Dinwiddie cleared waivers at 5 p.m. ET Saturday.
“Spencer is returning to his roots and the city where his journey began,” Lakers Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Rob Pelinka said in a statement on Saturday. “We warmly welcome him back to his homeland of Los Angeles. We’re excited for him to wear the legendary Lakers outfit in front of his family and friends. His playmaking and competitiveness at the guard position provide us tremendous depth as we continue our strong push into the second half of the season. Spencer brings a plethora of expertise to our squad as well as a track record of playoff success.
Dinwiddie, a 10-year veteran, attended the Lakers’ 139-122 victory against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday with his agent, Jason Glushon of Glushon Sports Management, and sat alongside Pelinka in a lower-level luxury suite right across from the team’s bench. Following the game, he met with Lakers players and coaches in the locker room.
D’Angelo Russell, who played alongside Dinwiddie in Brooklyn, intimated that the trade was inevitable.
“I’m a fan,” Russell said ESPN when asked what sort of guy Dinwiddie is. “But you all will get to know him soon.”
Dinwiddie averaged 12.6 points, 39.1% shooting (32% from three), and 6.0 assists in 48 Nets games this season.
LeBron James was asked what Dinwiddie might provide the Lakers.
“Playmaking, another ball handler, another shot-maker,” he remarked. “Another man, another veteran. It’s always beneficial to have a veteran with such talent. So let’s see what happens.
Anthony Davis has also backed Dinwiddie.
“He’s a big guard, shot-maker, and playmaker,” Davis said of Dinwiddie, who is 6-foot-5. “Obviously, we’ve seen what he’s done with Brooklyn and Dallas, making huge plays for them. He’s a well-known player in his league.”
Dinwiddie, who is originally from Los Angeles, considered reconnecting with the Mavericks or returning to his hometown before deciding on the Lakers, according to ESPN sources.
He will earn about $1.5 million for the rest of the season, according to reports. The Lakers were able to give slightly more than the prorated veterans minimum by include the extra money saved when Gabe Vincent signed for less than the entire midlevel exception.
Following a quiet trading deadline, Pelinka promised to be “aggressive” in the buyout market. Los Angeles already had an available roster space, so Dinwiddie could be signed without the Lakers having to move any players to make room for him.
With Vincent out for the most of the season due to a knee ailment, and the Lakers now losing Cam Reddish (knee) and Max Christie (ankle), Dinwiddie will, at the at least, provide roster depth to a squad plagued by injuries.
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