After a silent trade deadline stint, the Los Angeles Lakers are now expected to make some big splashes in the buyout market. One name that has been floating around circles is Spencer Dinwiddie. The rumors started to swirl when the free agent sat next to the Lakers’ vice president of basketball operations, Rob Pelinka, during Friday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans. These rumors were then confirmed by The Athletic’s Shams Charania, who reported that Spencer Dinwiddie would sign with the Lakers after he clears waivers on Saturday evening. However, one important question is whether the Lakers would have to waive anyone to accommodate the $18.9 million contract and a $1.5 million games played bonus.

The short answer is no. According to Brett Siegel of Clutch Points, the financial aspects of signing Dinwiddie are fairly simple. They offer him a minimum contract for the remainder of the season and extend the contract in the offseason based on his performance. This way, he will fill the open roster spot, and the Lakers can avoid exceeding the $3,163,325 luxury tax penalty.

The 30-year-old was recently traded by the Brooklyn Nets and subsequently waived by the Toronto Raptors due to his $1.5 million contract bonus for games played. Currently, the only genuine point guards available on the roster are D’Angelo Russell and Jalen Hood-Schifino, with the latter’s recent appearances in the rotation not yielding favorable results. While Gabe Vincent fits the bill as a point guard, his return to the lineup is uncertain.

How will Spencer Dinwiddie fit into the Lakers roster?

Although Dinwiddie is having a down year by his standards, averaging 12.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 6.0 assists this season, he has the best statistics compared to others available in the buyout market. A potential return to Los Angeles in a smaller role could potentially lead to a resurgence similar to his successful stint in Dallas alongside Luka Doncic, during which he averaged 17.1 points while shooting 46% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc.

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At the very least, Dinwiddie will offer insurance for the team at the point guard position. The team is currently lacking in ball handlers and requires players who can effectively orchestrate the offense, a role Dinwiddie is capable of filling. However, his ability to consistently deliver during the postseason remains uncertain. But taking everything into account, it’s difficult to envision the team making a better acquisition from the buyout market than someone as skilled as Dinwiddie. If this signing proves successful, it could be a major boost to the Lakers’ playoff chances.

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