4 Mavericks who immediately became trade bait after Dinwiddie signing
By Jake Ferraro
![Spencer Dinwiddie Spencer Dinwiddie](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3000,h_1687,x_0,y_92/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/83/01j3hatdch6vkg20751q.jpg)
The Dallas Mavericks needed one more player to fill in the 15th spot on the roster. The Mavs finished their roster by signing guard Spencer Dinwiddie on a one-year deal.
The signing has brought Dinwiddie back to Dallas. Dinwiddie played a big role in the Mavs' run to the 2022 Western Conference Finals. Dinwiddie was then traded to the Brooklyn Nets in the Kyrie Irving trade in 2023. But, Mavs fans are familiar with Dinwiddie's game, and should be excited he's back in Big D.
However, bringing back Dinwiddie has put pressure on for some players on the roster.
4 Mavericks who immediately became trade bait after Dinwiddie signing
Some of the players on the team may get their playing time diminished with Dinwiddie back. By the time the trade deadline rolls around, some players could see themselves out of Dallas.
The Mavs roster has excellent depth, and signing Dinwiddie benefits several players, it could also cause them to trade some of the depth if players are underperforming.
Here are four Dallas Mavericks players who immediately became trade bait after the Spencer Dinwiddie signing.
4. Maxi Kleber
Maxi Kleber is a power forward and Spencer Dinwiddie is a guard. But, Kleber would be used as trade bait with Dinwiddie back in Dallas.
Before the Mavs signed Dinwiddie, Kleber was already straddling the line of trade bait and being a vital asset. Now with Dinwiddie on the team, Kleber has some more pressure to perform better.
Kleber has had two injured seasons the past two seasons, and his confidence shooting the ball was lacking in the 2024 NBA Playoffs when he returned from a right shoulder injury. Dinwiddie isn't afraid to shoot the ball and has been healthy for most of his career.
Kleber also has a tradable contract as he has two years remaining at $11 million per year. With the Mavs' backcourt loaded with talent, the Mavs could trade Kleber to upgrade their frontcourt more.
Kleber would be one of the first players on the Mavericks that would be trade bait now that Dinwiddie is back in Dallas. Pressure for the 32-year-old forward has never been higher before as he is seemingly always injured, and his performance has diminished over the years.
Dinwiddie obviously won't take too many minutes from Kleber considering that they are different positions, but Dinwiddie could find himself higher on the depth chart than Kleber and force him to prove that he deserves more minutes.