LOS ANGELES — Free agent guard Spencer Dinwiddie will sign with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Dinwiddie, 30, was traded to the Raptors from the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday for Dennis Schroder and Thaddeus Young and was later waived by Toronto. Dinwiddie will remove the discount at 5 p.m. ET.
The 10-year veteran attended the Lakers' 139-122 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday with his agent, Jason Glushon of Clushon Sports Management, and sat down with Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Belinka. Position luxury suite directly from the team's bench. After the game, he visited the locker room with Lakers players and coaches.
D'Angelo Russell, who played with Dinwiddie in Brooklyn, indicated the move was imminent.
“I'm a fan,” Russell told ESPN when asked what Dinwiddie was like. “But you will all know him soon enough.”
Dinwiddie is averaging 12.6 points on 39.1% shooting (32% from 3) and 6.0 assists in 48 games for the Nets this season.
LeBron James was asked what Dinwiddie could offer if he came to Los Angeles.
“Playing, another ball-handler, another shot-maker,” James said. “Another guy, another veteran. Anytime you add a veteran with that ability, it helps. So we'll see what happens.”
Anthony Davies also supported Dinwiddie.
“He's a big guard, shot-maker, playmaker,” Davis said of the 6-foot-5 Dinwiddie. “Obviously, what he did with Brooklyn, what he did with Dallas, making big plays for them. He's a well-established player in his league.”
Dinwiddie, a native of Los Angeles, narrowed down his decision between rejoining the Mavericks or returning to his hometown before choosing the Lakers, sources told ESPN.
He will make about $1.5 million for the rest of the season, sources said. By adding the extra salary saved when Gabe Vincent was signed on less than the full midlevel exception, the Lakers were able to offer a little more than the bare minimum.
After a quiet trade deadline, Pelinka vowed to remain “aggressive” in the buying market. Los Angeles already had an open roster spot, so the Lakers could sign without moving any players to make room for Dinwiddie.
With Vincent sidelined for most of the season with a knee injury and the Lakers currently missing Cam Reddish (knee) and Max Christie (ankle), Dinwiddie will, at the very least, bring roster depth to an injury-plagued team.
Dinwiddie's plan to sign with Los Angeles was first reported by The Athletic.
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