Mavericks signing Spencer Dinwiddie raises 8 burning questions immediately

7. Can Dinwiddie be the same defender that he was with the Lakers?

Before Spencer Dinwiddie signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in the middle of last season, he was used to being a ball-dominant player for most of his career. Dinwiddie had started in almost every game he played in over the previous four seasons, and he started in every game he played for the Brooklyn Nets that season.

Dinwiddie had almost always been a feature on offense, but things changed when he was on the Lakers. He was used as a 3-and-D guard, and while his scoring numbers were down, he made a big impact on defense.

Dinwiddie was one of the better defenders on the Lakers during the brief stint he spent there, and he showed that he can be a good defensive stopper. Standing at 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-8 wingspan, Dinwiddie has the frame to be a disruptive defender.

With the Lakers, he showcased his ability to block shots as he averaged a career-high 0.5 blocks per game, and he had active hands on opponent drives. He may not have the same lateral speed he once had, but he showed that he can be a good defender during his time in Los Angeles and took tough defensive matchups.

That is one thing that many fans have forgotten about, and the Mavericks are going to be more dangerous than expected if he can lock down on that end. He isn't someone who will go out and make an All-Defensive team, but he holds his own on that end and can guard multiple positions.