4 Mavericks who immediately became trade bait after Dinwiddie signing

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.

3. Dante Exum

For backup guard Dante Exum, he is another player who could have pressure of being trade bait with the Mavs signing Spencer Dinwiddie. At 29 years old, there is more added pressure to perform at a high level and prove he belongs in the NBA.

Despite missing 27 games last season, Exum was a good X-factor coming off the bench. Exum averaged 7.8 points per game to go with outstanding shooting percentages. Exum shot 53 percent from the field and 49 percent from three.

But, Exum struggled in the 2024 NBA Playoffs as his shooting percentages dropped big. Exum shot 36 percent from the field and 35 percent from three. With a struggling Playoffs, it may have caused him to slide down the depth chart.

Exum enters this season facing a make-or-break season as he's on an expiring contract at $3.15 million which isn't that highly priced. His expiring contract can make him more trade-worthy for a better player.

Dinwiddie will enter this season on a one-year deal as well, but Dinwiddie has been more of a reliable player in the Playoffs than Exum. Also, with Exum being another guard, Dinwiddie might get more minutes than Exum. Less minutes for Exum could make him expendable by the trade deadline with how deep the Mavs guard depth is.

If Exum doesn't get traded out of Dallas, he will have to make his minutes count coming off the bench with Dinwiddie back. Exum has shown he can shoot with confidence with the Mavs before and will have to do it again this season.

2. Jaden Hardy

For 22-year-old guard Jaden Hardy, he had a sophomore slump season. Hardy's points per game, field goal percentage, 3-point percentage, free throw percentage, and minutes per game all dropped from his rookie season.

Entering his third NBA season, Hardy could be part of the Mavs' core if he performs better, but this season will determine if he will be trade bait or a core piece.

Hardy struggled in the 2024 Playoffs averaging 4.6 points per game in under seven minutes per game. Hardy also was unplayable at times in the Playoffs early, but he finally got going in the Western Conference Finals. With Spencer Dinwiddie back on the Mavs, it could cause Hardy to get fewer minutes.

Dinwiddie has shown in the past that he's worthy of getting high minutes per game. Hardy hasn't quite exactly shown head coach Jason Kidd why he's capable of getting more minutes per game, and is inconsistent.

Hardy does have a cheap restricted contract at a little over $2 million for this season. But, if Hardy underperforms again this season, it could lead to the Mavs looking to trade him at the deadline. With already a deeply stacked guard team, Hardy might not have his position in the rotation on the Mavs.

Dinwiddie back in Dallas has put more pressure on another guard on the roster with Hardy. The Mavs don't want to give up on the young guard yet, but another underperforming season could lead to his Mavs' tenure ending sooner than expected.

1. Quentin Grimes

Yes, the Dallas Mavericks did make a successful trade for Quentin Grimes from the Detroit Pistons for Tim Hardaway Jr. this summer, but Grimes is a player who could be used as trade bait with the Mavericks signing Spencer Dinwiddie.

Grimes has the ability to reach his full potential with a fresh start being traded to Dallas. Grimes is a better defender than Dinwiddie, but Dinwiddie is a much better scorer than Grimes.

Because Grimes was traded to Dallas, the Mavs may have set a higher bar with Grimes than other bench guards Dante Exum and Jaden Hardy. If Grimes underperforms like he did last season, it can lead to fewer minutes for him and more minutes for Dinwiddie. Grimes averaged seven points per game last season compared to his 11.3 points per game in the 2022-23 season.

Grimes also enters this season on an expiring restricted contract at just under $4.3 million. Grimes' cheap contract for a 24-year-old can also make him more of a tradable player if a team wants to trade for him with the intent of re-signing him in the summer.

Grimes also had an injured season last season and only played in six games for the Pistons after being traded there by the Knicks.

Grimes is the third guard who could be trade bait after the Dinwiddie signing, and regardless of his potential, he is going to fight for his minutes. Grimes might be a brand new player in Dallas, but the pressure on him to earn his minutes may be higher than expected.