Spencer Dinwiddie failed to make much of a good impression during his time with the Los Angeles Lakers. The former Lakers guard made an even worse one during his short stint with the Charlotte Hornets. His opportunity with their franchise is over before it ever really began.
Shams Charania reported on Twitter/X, "The Charlotte Hornets are waiving guard Spencer Dinwiddie, sources tell ESPN. Dinwiddie, an 11-year NBA veteran, signed a one-year deal with the Hornets in July free agency. Charlotte had to release a guaranteed salary ahead of season opener next week. "
Getting waived by the Hornets has to be as close to a kiss of death on an NBA career as one can get. To be released from one of the most miserable franchise in the league does not exactly endorse a vote of confidence in what a veteran has left in the tank.
Perhaps Dinwiddie will catch on somewhere else before the end of the 2025-26 season. The Houston Rockets could certainly use another guard after the Fred VanVleet injury. However, the Rockets cannot make that outright signing until Dec. 15 without making a trade. A deal to free up a spot for this struggling former Laker is just not worth it right now.
Spencer Dinwiddie’s NBA future uncertain as ever following Hornets departure
Dinwiddie joined the Lakers during the 2023-24 season after being waived by the Toronto Raptors upon his acquisition at the 2024 NBA trade deadline. The veteran guard did not provide much substance during his time in purple and gold.
Dinwiddie averaged 6.8 points and 2.4 assists per game, shooting 39.7 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from beyond the arc in 28 appearances for the Lakers. After playing 24.2 minutes per game in the regular season with Los Angeles, they decided to give him a shot in the playoff rotation.
That move was a mistake. Dinwiddie struggled, averaging only 3.0 points in 14.6 minutes per game off the bench. The ex-Lakers guard's troubles with efficiency were made worse, shooting 35.7 percent from the field and 25.0 percent from deep in a five-game series loss to the dreaded Denver Nuggets.
The 2024-25 season was spent in Texas for Dinwiddie. After a serviceable regular season, a Dallas Mavericks team screaming out for guard depth, following the Kyrie Irving injury, felt comfortable letting him walk. Having now dipped back into the free agent pool, his days as a reliable rotation player may be over.