The Hornets waived Spencer Dinwiddie this week, and it didn’t take long for Lakers fans to connect the dots. With the Lakers still searching for backcourt depth while having an open roster spot, a proven veteran guard like Dinwiddie makes sense on paper. But, as usual with this franchise, the real question isn’t whether they should — it’s whether they can.
The Charlotte Hornets are waiving guard Spencer Dinwiddie, sources tell ESPN. Dinwiddie, an 11-year NBA veteran, signed a one-year deal with the Hornets in July free agency. Charlotte had to release a guaranteed salary ahead of season opener next week. pic.twitter.com/qbrz24a9rs
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 16, 2025
The Cap Crunch
Technically, the Lakers do have one standard roster slot available. But practically? Not so much.
Los Angeles is pressed right up against the NBA’s first-apron hard cap — the financial barrier that locks them from adding salary beyond a specific threshold. According to team cap projections, they’re within roughly one to two million dollars of that line. That means a full veteran minimum deal, even for someone like Dinwiddie, would likely push them over the limit.
Unless Rob Pelinka and the front office clear salary via a trade or a waived non-guaranteed deal, they simply can’t sign another player outright. The only alternative would be to wait until later in the season, when prorated salaries shrink enough to squeeze under the cap.
In other words, the Lakers can’t use their open roster spot at this point.
Familiar Faces
If the Lakers could make the math work, Dinwiddie would be one of the more logical additions available. He already knows the franchise and the superstars.
Dinwiddie shared a backcourt with Luka Doncic in Dallas, a dynamic that worked surprisingly well. While Luka dominated as the primary ball handler, Dinwiddie thrived as the secondary creator, attacking mismatches, spacing the floor, and orchestrating second-unit possessions without disrupting the offensive rhythm.
That partnership offers a seamless transition to Los Angeles. Luka now commands the same high-usage, heliocentric offense in L.A., and Dinwiddie’s skill set fits perfectly as a complementary guard who doesn’t need the ball to impact winning.
It’s also worth remembering that Dinwiddie has worn purple and gold before. That stint didn’t last, but it left a connection with the franchise and its culture that could ease a reunion.
His Skillset
Dinwiddie’s value lies in his flexibility. He can handle the ball when Luka sits, defend both guard spots in a pinch, and stretch the floor just enough to keep defenses honest. He’s a stabilizer. The kind of steadying veteran who helps playoff rotations survive non-star minutes.
He’s not a savior, but he’s the type of piece championship teams often add midseason: a smart, switchable guard who already knows how to play next to a superstar.
The Bottom Line
The Lakers have the need, the familiarity, and the fit — but not the financial wiggle room. Unless Pelinka can shed salary or wait until prorated contracts become affordable later this winter, Dinwiddie’s reunion tour in L.A. will likely remain a rumor.
Still, if this front office has proven anything, it’s that “impossible” is just a temporary word. If the numbers can be massaged and the timing aligns, don’t be surprised if Spencer Dinwiddie finds himself back under the Hollywood lights — this time alongside Luka again, only in purple and gold.
