Should the Los Angeles Lakers trade for Spencer Dinwiddie?

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 23: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers in action against Spencer Dinwiddie #8 of the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on January 23, 2020 in New York City. The Lakers defeated the Nets 128-113. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Financials

Financially, the deal could work smoothly enough. As both teams sit beyond the salary cap, the trade should be an even exchange of money.

Green’s $15 million, opposed to Dinwiddie’s 11, could be easily matched by adding some small contract of unimportant players to make the math work. Players like Rodions Kurucs, Džanan Musa, or even Garrett Temple, if he decides to opt-in.

Danny is in the final year of his contract, so the Nets would not be stuck with him if he does not produce at the level, but they would have the chance to re-sign him to a lower figure if satisfied with him.

On the Lakers’ side, Dinwiddie’s contract situation might be a little bit tricky. He has a player option for 2022. Should he decide to opt-in, it would interfere with Lakers’ plans to pursue Antetokounmpo, preventing them from having the necessary cap space to offer him a max-contract.

Of course, the Lakers could still trade him. If he keeps producing at the level he is, proving himself a valuable piece, at such a relatively low-figure he could represent a good bargain for an under-the-cap team.

Spencer might also decide to bet on himself, opt out of the contract and explore a free agent market that expects to be vibrant after this offseason’s poverty and the hopeful resurgence from the coronavirus’ losses.

Not an insurmountable issue, but something the Lakers must be mindful of.

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