Overlooked Spencer Dinwiddie factor will change everything for Mavericks

In the middle of the 2023-24 season, the Dallas Mavericks went from a borderline play-in team to an elite contender.

Dallas made two trades for Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington that gave them the momentum they needed to turn the season around and make a deep playoff run, but they were also inches away from making another move that would have helped them be even better.

Since Dallas traded three players while only bringing in two, they had an open roster spot, and the player who they had in their crosshairs would have fit perfectly.

It was reported that the Mavs wanted to go after Spencer Dinwiddie to fill out their roster, but another Western Conference foe was in the way of that. Dinwiddie would choose between the Mavs and the Los Angeles Lakers, and he ultimately went with the Lakers.

Dinwiddie just plays better in Dallas

Dinwiddie's reasoning behind going with the Lakers was questionable and caused some Mavs fans to dislike him, but he has the chance to make it up to fans and the team as he signed with Dallas over the summer.

Dinwiddie signed a one-year deal with the Mavs to fill out their bench depth, but one thing about this move isn't being talked about enough.

Dinwiddie was elite with the Mavs in the 76 regular season games he played for them, and some players are just better with certain teams. His struggles with the Lakers are undeniable, but he is in the perfect spot to bounce back and have a great season.

Dinwiddie and Luka Doncic were a lethal on-court duo who helped the Mavs reach the Western Conference Finals, and the Lakers didn't utilize him correctly. He has typically been a great secondary creator throughout his career who can play off or on the ball, but the Lakers turned him into a primary off-ball player.

He wasn't able to create much, and although his 3-point shooting and defense were good, his role will be a bit different in Dallas. He'll likely handle the ball more and create off the dribble rather than being a 3-and-D shooter, but he can thrive in that role when needed as well.

Dinwiddie was deadly off the catch during his first stint with the Mavs, and they will likely play to his strengths more than the Lakers did. He'll be able to play as an off-ball secondary creator and shooter when sharing the floor with Doncic and Kyrie Irving, but he can also be the lead initiator during times when Doncic and Irving need a breather.

Dinwiddie being back in familiar territory should help bring the best out of him, and we should learn plenty more about his potential role with the Mavs tomorrow after media day. Fans are overall excited that Dinwiddie is back in Dallas, and his play off the bench is an underrated X-factor going into the 2024-25 season.