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Dave McMenamin, ESPN Staff Writer
LOS ANGELES — Free agent guard Spencer Dinwiddie will sign with the Los Angeles Lakers when he clears waivers, a source familiar with his plans confirmed to ESPN on Saturday.
Dinwiddie, 30, was traded from the Brooklyn Nets to the Toronto Raptors for Dennis Schroder and Thaddeus Young on Thursday and subsequently waived by Toronto. Dinwiddie will clear waivers at 5 p.m. ET.
The 10-year veteran attended the Lakers’ 139-122 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday along with his agent, Jason Glushon of Glushon Sports Management, and sat with Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager, Rob Pelinka, in a lower-level luxury suite directly across from the Lakers bench. After the game, he visited with Lakers players and coaches in the locker room.
D’Angelo Russell, who played with Dinwiddie in Brooklyn, hinted that this move was imminent.
“I’m a fan,” Russell told ESPN when asked about what kind of person Dinwiddie is. “But you all will get to know him soon.”
Dinwiddie averaged 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 provide if he came to L.A.
“Playmaking, another ball handler, another shotmaker,” James said. “Another guy, another veteran. Anytime you can add a veteran with that ability, it helps. So we’ll see what happens.”
Anthony Davis also endorsed Dinwiddie.
“He’s a big guard, shotmaker, playmaker,” Davis said of the 6-5 Dinwiddie. “Obviously, we’ve seen what he did with Brooklyn, what he did with Dallas making big plays for them. He’s a well-established player of that in his league.”
Dinwiddie, a Los Angeles native, narrowed his decision to reuniting with the Dallas Mavericks or returning to his hometown before ultimately choosing the Lakers, sources told ESPN.
Dinwiddie will make approximately $1.5 million for the remainder of the season, sources told ESPN. The Lakers were able to offer slightly more than the prorated veteran’s minimum by adding additional salary saved from Gabe Vincent‘s midlevel exception, which Vincent signed at less than the full mid level exception.
After a quiet trade deadline, Pelinka vowed to be “aggressive” in the buyout market. L.A. already had an open roster spot, so Dinwiddie is able to be signed without the Lakers moving any players to accommodate him.
With Vincent sidelined for most of the season with a knee injury and L.A. currently missing Cam Reddish (knee) and Max Christie (ankle), Dinwiddie — at the very least — will bring roster depth to a team that has been riddled by injuries.
Dinwiddie’s plan to sign with L.A. was first reported by The Athletic.