Man, the Dallas Mavericks are having one hell of an offseason. While not going after any premium, superstar names, Dallas has been quietly building out their roster. After their first trip to the NBA Finals in well over a decade, the front office was quick to retool the team. Now, they enter the new season with slight tweaks that should further bolster the roster.
The latest addition to the team was a familiar face for fans in Texas. Spencer Dinwiddie was invaluable for the Mavericks on their last great postseason run. Since then, he has had pitstops with both the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers.
This past season with the Lakers was a slight swing toward the negative for the veteran guard. A return to the Mavs might be just what the doctor ordered for Spencer as he gets back on track.
A familiar face in Texas
Since their 2011 Championship, the team hadn’t made it beyond the first round of the playoffs. That came to a head in 2022 when they had a historic run to the Western Conference Finals. During those playoffs, Dinwiddie was arguably the team’s second-best player. Averaging over 14 points a game, he was highly efficient, shooting 41% from distance.
For a career 33% 3-point shooter, that uptick was the difference between another first-round exit and a run to the Conference Finals. However, the biggest surprise, even for ardent fans of the Colorado product was the defense.
While never a lockdown defender, Dinwiddie was sensational throughout the playoff run. Whether it was hounding players or attacking the passing lanes, his defense gave Dallas a secondary edge over their opponents.
Suddenly, beyond a Luka Doncic offense, the team also had a top-10 defense in the league. His next season, with the Brooklyn Nets, had a similar offensive output. Taking his scoring up to 16.5 points, he had a strong showing in Brooklyn’s playoff run, albeit one that was five games long. It was last season when the trajectory took a downward turn.
Making his way to the Los Angeles Lakers amid much fanfare, Dinwiddie wasn’t able to have much of an impact. With the ball not in his hands as much, opportunities were far more sparse for the nine-year veteran. As a result, his averages fell to just 3 ppg as he became essentially inconsequential. As he returns to a Dallas Mavericks team, his role is far more different.
Last time, the team had to rely on him for an offensive punch. This time around, the team has enough offensive juice in Luka, Kyrie Irving, PJ Washington, and the newly acquired Klay Thompson. Instead, Spencer might have a bigger role as a stabilizer for the second unit. Further, with the loss of Derick Jones Jr. and Josh Green, the team lost 2 of its best POA defenders. That is where the arrival of Dinwiddie could make the biggest difference for the Mavericks.
Another Los Angeles Lakers mishap, another Dallas Mavericks victory
In an offseason of disappointments, Spencer Dinwiddie joins the list of players to spur the Lakers. Throughout the summer, a plethora of players have had their names in connection to LA.
However, whether it be circumstances or GM Rob Pelinka’s mismanagement, none of the deals have come to fruition. Instead, the team stands with essentially the same roster as last season with a new head coach at the helm.
On that list, the latest addition was Dinwiddie. While the California resident made clear his intentions to return, no deal was made. What hurts for Lakers fans even more is the deal Spencer came to eventually. He joins the Dallas Mavericks on a minimum deal, easily doable for Los Angeles as well. After Klay Thompson, he is the second player to directly contend with the two and eventually sign with Dallas.
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