Lakers News: Top Buyout Market Free Agent Spencer Dinwiddie Signing With LA

There's a new Laker in town.

Your Los Angeles Lakers are finally adding a backup point guard who can actually play games with the team.

Per Shams Charania of The Athletic, free agent veteran Spencer Dinwiddie, intends to join Los Angeles when he clears buyout waivers. Dinwiddie had been perhaps the top buyout market candidate on the market. 

The 6'5" Colorado alum, who attended Taft High School in Woodland Hills, started all 48 of his games with the Brooklyn Nets this season before being flipped to the Toronto Raptors at the trade deadline and subsequently waived. Charania also mentioned that the Philadelphia 76ers and New Orleans Pelicans had some interest.

Charania reveals that the Dallas Mavericks were also in the market for Dinwiddie's services. Dinwiddie was a critical third guard for the club during its most successful stint with Luka Doncic to date -- a run to the Western Conference Finals in 2022.

Last night, Dinwiddie and his agent sat with LA GM Rob Pelinka in the team's VIP seats at Crypto.com Arena to take in the club's 139-122 shellacking of the New Orleans Pelicans. Afterwards, starting Lakers point guard not-so-subtly hinted that Dinwiddie would be joining the club:

D’Angelo Russell on Spencer Dinwiddie: “I’m a fan. Y’all will get to know him soon.” pic.twitter.com/uEBMx7Da5K

— michael corvo (@michaelcorvo_) February 10, 2024

Los Angeles didn't sign Gabe Vincent to its full midlevel exception this summer (a wise decision, as it turns out, given that Vincent has missed all but five games with a left knee effusion). The club has $1.5 million available from its prorated MLE money with which it can still sign Dinwiddie. When it came to luring Dinwiddie, the Lakers had a distinctive edge over the Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, LA Clippers, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns: they were beneath the tax apron. None of those other hopefuls were, meaning they were ineligible to sign him. 

The Lakers are still below the NBA's tax apron, and thus will be able to make other signings -- they'll have to cut players from their current standard roster, however, as the Dinwiddie signing fills up their tally at 15 players.