Hornets Sign Spencer Dinwiddie to Join Crowded Backcourt

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Steven Corder | Last updated Jul 2, 2025 5:27 PM ET

In a move that’s raising eyebrows across the league and sparking buzz in Buzz City, the Charlotte Hornets have signed veteran guard Spencer Dinwiddie to a one-year deal, per ESPN’s Shams Charania .

For a team coming off a 19–63 season and mired in an eight-year playoff drought, the addition of Dinwiddie offers more than just on-court production, it injects leadership, and versatility into a guard-heavy roster already brimming with question marks.

Dinwiddie, 31, averaged 11.0 points, 4.4 assists, and 2.6 rebounds in 79 games for the Dallas Mavericks last season. While his scoring dipped from prior years, he started 30 contests and showed flashes of the playmaking ability that made him a pivotal piece in the Mavs’ 2022 Western Conference Finals run. In those 30 starts last season, Dinwiddie produced 14.3 points and 6.2 assists per game, numbers that suggest he still has the juice to run an offense.

For Charlotte, the signing adds a reliable veteran to a youthful and unbalanced backcourt featuring LaMelo Ball, Collin Sexton, Tre Mann, and Nick Smith Jr., among others. That depth, while promising, borders on over-saturation. Multiple league insiders expect the front office to explore further moves, whether that be through trades or waivers, before the offseason moratorium ends.

A second-round pick in 2014, Dinwiddie brings 621 games of NBA experience to a locker room that has often lacked consistency and direction. His career averages of 13.0 points and 5.1 assists, don’t leap off the page, but his adaptability in various guard roles makes him a valuable bridge between development and competitiveness.

This move might not be the blockbuster fans crave, but it could be the strategic pivot the Hornets need, whether Dinwiddie mentors the next wave or becomes part of a larger trade domino.

What’s next? Watch closely. With the roster crunch growing tighter and summer league days away, Charlotte’s front office may not be done reshaping the future.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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