The Los Angeles Lakers have officially signed guard Spencer Dinwiddie after he cleared waivers following a buyout by the Toronto Raptors. Dinwiddie, who grew up in the Los Angeles area, chose the Lakers over the Dallas Mavericks, citing his roots and childhood fandom of the team. The Lakers see Dinwiddie as a valuable addition to their backcourt, providing depth and experience, especially with injuries affecting the team this season. LeBron James and Anthony Davis both expressed optimism about Dinwiddie's playmaking and scoring abilities, highlighting his potential impact on the team.
With the NBA trade deadline passed, teams are now focusing on the buyout market to bolster their rosters for the playoffs. Players to watch include Spencer Dinwiddie, likely to join the Dallas Mavericks, Kyle Lowry expected to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers, Danilo Gallinari, drawing interest from the Lakers and Celtics, Robin Lopez, a potential addition for teams needing size, and Marcus Morris, rumored to be of interest to the Timberwolves.
The Lakers were unable to make a deal at the trade deadline, with the closest attempt involving discussions with the Hawks for Dejounte Murray. They now have draft assets to potentially acquire a third star in the offseason. The front office considered trading Taurean Prince but opted to keep him, and they are looking for a ball-handling guard or the best available player on the buyout market. There are concerns about Jarred Vanderbilt's return this season, with the possibility of season-ending foot surgery still being considered.
The NBA trade deadline has passed, but teams are still reworking rosters through player waivers and buyouts. Several playoff hopefuls have open roster spots, and the buyout market is expected to be active until March 1. The top players potentially on the market include Spencer Dinwiddie, Delon Wright, Troy Brown Jr., Kyle Lowry, and Marcus Morris Sr. Teams are sifting through options to fill their rosters for the playoffs, with more stringent buyout rules in place this season.
The Boston Celtics have made some moves ahead of the NBA trade deadline, acquiring Xavier Tillman and Jaden Springer, but still have an open roster spot to fill through the buyout market. However, due to salary restrictions, they are limited in their options and cannot sign players who were making over $12.4 million before being bought out. Some potential buyout candidates for the Celtics include Danilo Gallinari, Delon Wright, Thaddeus Young, Otto Porter Jr., Danuel House Jr., and Andre Drummond, among others.
Following the NBA trade deadline, several veteran players are expected to hit the buyout market, including Kyle Lowry, Spencer Dinwiddie, Marcus Morris, Danilo Gallinari, Joe Harris, and Thaddeus Young. These players have garnered interest from various teams such as the 76ers, Lakers, Magic, Mavericks, Pelicans, Timberwolves, Celtics, Bulls, and Suns. Additionally, former Pistons player Killian Hayes, though not a buyout, has also attracted interest from the Spurs, Grizzlies, and Wizards after being waived.
Los Angeles Lakers' vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka explained the team's inactivity at the trade deadline, stating that the right move wasn't available despite efforts to improve the team. The Lakers opted not to trade their only movable future draft pick for a "marginal" improvement and plan to fill their open roster spot through the buyout market. They are considered front-runners to sign guard Spencer Dinwiddie and are focused on getting healthy before making a playoff push, with LeBron James emphasizing his commitment to lead the team regardless of the roster.
The Philadelphia 76ers marginally improved at the NBA trade deadline by acquiring sharpshooter Buddy Hield from the Indiana Pacers, but they lost significant defense and toughness by trading away players like Patrick Beverley. The team is now banking on the buyout market to address their need for another center and depth at the guard spot, with the potential addition of Kyle Lowry looming. While the Sixers made moves to create flexibility and roster spots, they still face a desperate need for a dependable center and are hoping to bounce back with the help of the buyout market.
The Golden State Warriors made a last-minute trade, sending Cory Joseph to the Indiana Pacers for a second-round pick, which opens up a roster spot likely to be filled by guard Lester Quinones. Converting Quinones to a standard contract instead of Joseph will save the franchise millions in luxury tax payments. While Quinones has shown promise, the team may still seek a veteran addition from the buyout market to bolster their playoff hopes, with Spencer Dinwiddie being a high-profile option.
Following a relatively quiet trade deadline, the NBA buyout market is heating up as teams look to bolster their rosters with veteran players. Spencer Dinwiddie is likely to be waived by the Raptors, with reported interest from the Lakers and Mavericks. Other notable names expected to hit the buyout market include Marcus Morris Sr., Joe Harris, and Victor Oladipo, among others. The buyout market provides an opportunity for contenders to add impactful players for the remainder of the season.
