Lakers among favorites to land Spencer Dinwiddie

The Los Angeles Lakers had a very quiet NBA trade deadline day, standing pat and not making any moves.

It appears the Lakers will look to capitalize on the upcoming NBA buyout market, which would be headlined by the likes of Spencer Dinwiddie, Marcus Morris, Joe Harris and possibly other veterans such as Kyle Lowry, Danilo Gallinari and Davis Bertans.  

According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the Lakers are currently the frontrunners to sign Dinwiddie, who was waived by the Toronto Raptors after being a part of a trade that sent Dennis Schroder and Thaddeus Young to the Brooklyn Nets.

"The Los Angeles Lakers are among the front runners to sign guard Spencer Dinwiddie when he clears waivers, sources tell ESPN," McMenamin wrote on X. “The 30-year-old L.A. native averaged 12.6 points and 6.0 assists for BKN this season."

The Lakers also hold a significant advantage over other contenders such as Celtics, Bucks, Nuggets, Warriors, Clippers, Heat and Suns, none of whom are allowed to sign players from the buyout market who had a pre-existing salary over the mid-level exception of $12.4M. As such, they could emerge as the favorites to land other veterans possibly hitting the buyout market imminently.

Besides the Lakers, the Sixers, Mavs, Knicks and Cavaliers are among other teams under the second tax apron that could get busy in the buyout market.