Mavericks continue loading up backcourt for another championship run

With Dallas expected to face a heavy slate of contenders for the crown in the west, the group hasn't stayed complacent about running it back with the same roster.

The Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves should all be back to challenge the Mavericks in 2024-25, and the Memphis Grizzlies are a popular pick to bounce back as well with the return of point guard Ja Morant. The San Antonio Spurs are expected to make significant strides in Victor Wembanyama's second season too, especially with the addition of future Hall-of-Fame point guard Chris Paul.

While Dinwiddie, Thompson, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are expected to star in the Dallas backcourt, the team has a strong, young frontcourt with Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington as well. Both 25-year-olds played critical roles in the Mavericks' run to their first NBA Finals appearance in 13 years.

It shouldn't be too big of an adjustment for Dinwiddie to share the load with Doncic and Irving, as he played with "Uncle Drew" for parts of two seasons with the Brooklyn Nets from 2019-21 and with the former in Dallas in parts of the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.

Dinwiddie was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft and spent two seasons in the Motor City.

The 31-year-old was traded to the Chicago Bulls in June 2016 but was waived and eventually picked up by the Nets in December of that year. Dinwiddie was then sent from Brooklyn to the Washington Wizards in August 2021 in a sign-and-trade deal as part of a five-team blockbuster that also included former MVP guard Russell Westbrook (and many others).

This started a shocking spree of four trades in four years for Dinwiddie.

The Colorado product was moved to the Mavericks in February 2022 on the day of the trade deadline. Dinwiddie was shipped back to the Nets three days before the 2023 deadline last February in a transaction that paired Doncic and Irving together.

The former 38th overall pick was then traded to the Toronto Raptors on Feb. 8 but was waived later that day. Dinwiddie signed with the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 10 and averaged 6.8 points, 2.4 assists and 24.2 minutes per game across 28 games (four starts) with the team.