Dinwiddie signing shows Mavericks have schooled Lakers 3 times in a row

One of the Dallas Mavericks' focusses this offseason was adding guard depth off the bench.

In the playoffs, Dallas had spectacular guard play from Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, but the play of their guards off the bench wasn't up to par. While Jaden Hardy had some great moments, the play of Dante Exum was disappointing.

Neither guard was able to carry consistency into the playoffs, and the Mavs addressed this issue by signing Spencer Dinwiddie to a one-year deal. Dinwiddie was clearly the frontrunner for Dallas' final roster spot, and now the Mavs land a solidified backup point guard.

Dinwiddie signing shows Mavericks have schooled Lakers 3 times in a row

Last season for the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers, Dinwiddie averaged 10.5 points and 4.7 assists per game while shooting 39.2 percent from the field.

It wasn't the most efficient season for Dinwiddie, but his role with the Lakers was much different than it was with the Nets. Dinwiddie was turned into a 3-and-D guard and didn't have the ball in his hands much.

He also didn't start, and that was a major change from the few previous seasons he spent in Brooklyn and Dallas. While all eyes are on the Mavericks for making this underrated move for Dinwiddie, there have also been some eyes on the Lakers too as Dallas schooled them once again.

3. Dinwiddie spurns Lakers for Mavericks

Last season, the Mavs showed interest in Dinwiddie during the middle of the season as he was a free agent after getting bought out. Despite Dallas' interest, Dinwiddie signed with the Lakers.

This move upset Mavs fans at the time, but Dallas pulled the ultimate reverse card this summer as they beat out the Lakers to sign Dinwiddie. The Lakers were interested in bringing him back, but he ultimately elected to sign with Dallas.

This was big news for the Mavs, as they beat out the Lakers for a free agent that they both had their eyes on. While this wouldn't have been the case a few years ago, Dallas is finally turning into a hot destination for free agents.

Players want to come to Dallas as the organization provides them with a winning culture and a new family, but Dinwiddie signing with the Mavs wasn't the first time that Dallas has schooled the Lakers in free agency.

It's also happened two other times recently, and all three of these moves will shape Dallas' identity next season.

2. Klay Thompson turns down big offer from Lakers to join Mavericks

Before the offseason began, the Dallas Mavericks' biggest priority was to re-sign Derrick Jones Jr.

Jones Jr. was the starting wing for the Mavs throughout the 2024 NBA Playoffs, and his elevated play on both ends of the floor helped propel Dallas to the NBA Finals. While keeping Jones Jr. was a big priority for the team, it quickly shifted to landing Klay Thompson.

Dallas had been a rumored suitor for Klay Thompson since April, and his decision came down to the Mavs and the Los Angeles Lakers. He could either stay in California and team up with LeBron James or come to Dallas for a fresh start.

Despite a much bigger contract offer from the Lakers, Thompson signed with the Mavs for less years and less money than Los Angeles' rumored offer of four years and $80 million.

Dallas beating out the Lakers for Thompson was huge for them, as it gave them their guaranteed new starting small forward and much-needed shooting. The Mavs were looking to add shooting this offseason, and they signed one of the greatest shooters to ever play the game in Thompson.

Thompson chose the Mavs over the Lakers despite living in California for nearly his entire life, and he can't wait to get to work. He is locked in on winning his fifth ring, and the fact that he thought Dallas gave him a better opportunity to do that than Los Angeles shows how great of a job Nico Harrison has done of building this team.

1. Lakers' rumored pursuit of Kyrie Irving fails as he signs with Mavericks

At the 2022-23 trade deadline, the Dallas Mavericks made a blockbuster trade as they sent Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, and multiple draft picks to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Kyrie Irving and Markieff Morris.

The Mavs didn't perform particularly well after the trade, as they ended up missing the playoffs, but Dallas still wanted to keep Irving as he became an unrestricted free agent after the season ended.

There were rumblings that the Lakers would pursue Irving in free agency (which later died down), and Irving re-signed with the Mavs on a three-year deal. While the hype around the Lakers getting Irving was overstated, it's big that Irving wanted to stay in Dallas the whole time and didn't play with the idea of teaming up with LeBron James once again in Los Angeles.

For Irving to have landed in Los Angeles last offseason it would have had to have been through a sign-and-trade, and although the odds were against the Lakers, there was still a possibility of Irving signing with the purple and gold.

The Lakers focussed on continuity that summer rather than pursuing Irving hard, and this ended with them being a first-round exit in the playoffs while the Mavs made it all the way to the NBA Finals.

Dallas got the last laugh with this one, as Irving never entertained the rumors of him being a Laker, and he quickly re-signed with Dallas shortly after free agency began.

Irving signing with Dallas over Los Angeles was the beginning of a streak that later included Klay Thompson and Spencer Dinwiddie signing with the Mavs over the Lakers, and times have changed for both franchises.

For all the latest on Spencer Dinwiddie, Kyrie Irving, and the Dallas Mavericks this offseason, stay plugged in with us as we'll have you covered.