Former Lakers guard seeking NBA comeback, but not with Los Angeles

Jan 23, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; The Los Angeles Lakers logo at midcourt at the Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Some players have the itch to return to the NBA following a short or extended absence. 

It’s safe to say it’s challenging to stay away for long after getting a taste of the big leagues. A former Los Angeles Lakers guard is currently seeking an NBA return after spending a brief period with FC Bayern Munich. 

However, he’s made it clear he isn’t interested in returning to the Lakers. 

‘I'd love to go to Rockets," Dinwiddie said on the Buckets Don’t Stop podcast last Friday. "I'd love to go to Rockets. One of my best NBA friends, Dorian Finney-Smith, is on the Rockets. And I think, the (Fred) VanVleet injury really hurt them.’

“I think they have all the makings of having that championship-type team. They have young talent in (Jabari) Smith Jr. and (Amen) Thompson. They got a great post up threat and creator in (Alperen) Sengun.”

“You got an all-time, all-world scorer in (Kevin Durant). And I think (I'm) a guard that can go in there, catch and shoot off of Sengun and KD, set the table in terms of just taking some of the thought process of, setting the table in terms of KD and Sengun just letting them score.”

Dinwiddie, who appeared in 79 games with the Dallas Mavericks last season and 28 games with the Lakers in 2023-24, could unquestionably assist a contender like the Rockets.

Adding another ball handler (VanVleet is out for the year with a torn ACL) who can score when needed and play his reserve role to perfection would be a wise move as Houston prepares to take things up a notch during the second half of the year. 

Time will tell if Houston feels motivated to sign Dinwiddie this season.

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