After a short-lived stint with the Charlotte Hornets, Spencer Dinwiddie is heading overseas. One might be unable to help but wonder if the veteran point guard would have remained in the NBA had he not signed with Buzz City.
A week after free agency opened this summer, the Hornets signed him to a one-year contract. That move, along with the acquisition of Mason Plumlee, had plenty of fans scratching their heads, confused as to why the front office used two of their roster slots on veterans who weren't exactly popular across the league.
Dinwiddie may have been the more logical signing, as Charlotte was likely seeking playmaking reinforcement. As many remember, the squad's offense struggled mightily last season, especially when LaMelo Ball and Tre Mann were sidelined with their respective injuries. Moreover, the 32-year-old point guard was familiar with Hornets president Jeff Peterson, as their stints with the Brooklyn Nets overlapped for nearly two years.
However, the organization executed another shocking move by waiving Dinwiddie. Chances are that it will turn out to be the right decision, as Pat Connaughton, the other candidate to be cut, has proven to be a more valuable presence on the bench and in the locker room and as a possible trade piece.
Also, the playmaker was pretty underwhelming during the preseason. To put it frankly, he did not give the Hornets enough reason to stick with him for at least the first few months of the 2025-26 regular season.
The NBA may have seen the last of Spencer Dinwiddie
It's unclear if the former second-round pick is holding a grudge against Charlotte. After all, he could have probably worked out for other teams had he not joined the franchise. The timing of his release didn't work in his favor either because the regular season was already about to start, and there was not enough roster space for him on most squads.
It's also possible that being with the Hornets was Dinwiddie's last chance to stay in the NBA. However, the fact that other organizations were in need of playmaking help is a major rebuttal to that argument.
If Dinwiddie dreams of making a return to the league, he would have to churn out terrific performances with his new employer, Bayern Munich. Then again, maybe he is better off spending the remainder of his playing career in the EuroLeague, as many other former NBA players were able to thrive more after bringing their talents overseas.