The Dallas Mavericks Summer League squad wrapped up their play in Las Vegas this weekend, and they ended up going 1-4 with their only win being against the Boston Celtics.
Dallas typically doesn't perform the best, but the Mavs definitely had a couple of standouts such as Jazian Gortman and Olivier-Maxence Prosper in spurts. Training camp will be here before we know it, and now focus will shift back over to free agency.
The Mavs have one more roster spot available, and as they search for guard depth off the bench, one former Mavericks fan-favorite guard and Los Angeles Laker is emerging as the frontrunner.
Spencer Dinwiddie is the frontrunner for Mavericks' final roster spot
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Dinwiddie is the "top candidate," (subscription required) for the Mavs' final roster spot, and there is mutual interest in a reunion. Stein also reported that Dinwiddie still has property in Dallas from when he was first on the Mavericks.
Dallas traded Dinwiddie to the Brooklyn Nets as part of the Kyrie Irving trade in 2023, and they tried to sign him the next season on the buyout market. Dinwiddie's final two choices were the Mavs and the Lakers, and he ended up choosing the Lakers. He also had some interesting things to say about why he chose Los Angeles over Dallas, and that frustrated Mavericks fans at the time.
Dinwiddie's time in Los Angeles didn't go exactly as planned, as he averaged 6.8 points per game while shooting 39.7 percent from the field, and the Mavs would be striking gold if they brought him back.
Dinwiddie was a key piece for the Mavs during their run to the 2022 Western Conference Finals, and his ability to play on and off the ball was crucial. He played outstanding when on the floor with Luka Doncic, and if he signed with Dallas, he'd be stepping into a role with no pressure and less of a workload than before.
He wouldn't be relied upon as much as he was in 2022, but the Mavs would use him to help lead the second unit and be a secondary creator and scorer when needed. Dallas desperately needed another guard to step up in the 2024 NBA Playoffs, and if they would have had Dinwiddie, the Finals could have gone a bit differently in some of those games.
Dinwiddie's shot creation for himself and his teammates would help Dallas in a big way, and he may be the perfect fit for the Mavs' final roster spot. Dallas' interest in Dinwiddie was reported earlier in the offseason, but it sounds like their interest in him may be higher than anyone realized.
For all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks and their rumored interest in Spencer Dinwiddie stay tuned as we'll have you covered.
