SUMMARY
- Darvin Ham wants Spencer Dinwiddie on the court with Austin Reaves and D'Angelo Russell.
- Laker fans point out that the lack of defense in that lineup will hurt their team.
Darwin Ham’s plans for Spencer Dinwiddie have not been acknowledged or respected by Los Angeles Lakers fans. As the basketball community should be aware by now, Dinwiddie became a buyout market free agent after the NBA trade deadline. He was traded from the Brooklyn Nets to the Toronto Raptors, who waived his contract and bought him out.
As a result, Spencer entered the free agent market and instantly expressed his desire to return to his hometown and play for the Los Angeles Lakers. The feelings appeared to be mutual since reports soon emerged revealing that the Lakers had offered Dinwiddie a 1-year contract for about $1.5 million.
While having Dinwiddie on their roster would certainly give the Lakers more firepower, several fans wondered how he would fit in with the team. Ham finally addressed this question and his answer is not being taken well by fans.Darwin Ham wants Spencer Dinwiddie on the court with D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves
Spencer Dinwiddie is listed at 6’5 and has played the point guard or shooting guard in his career so far. The Lakers already have Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell as their current backcourt. Therefore, many presumed that one of them would have to be on the bench in order to give Dinwiddie some playing time.
Darwin Ham doesn’t seem to think so. A recent report revealed that Ham was considering having 3 guards on the starting lineup during the closing stretches of games. Under that assumption, Reaves, Russell, and Dinwiddie would all be on the court at the same time.
Darvin Ham said that he envisions using Spencer Dinwiddie in three-guard lineups next to D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves. He said he could see the Lakers closing with those lineups at times.
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) February 12, 2024
While this would certainly be an interesting plan, Laker Nation does not agree with Ham’s thought process and has made their feelings abundantly clear.
Fans mock Ham’s decision and question his coaching ability
Although it might be considered unfair to dismiss Ham’s idea before seeing it in action, having 3 guards on the court who are not known for their defensive abilities can be considered a recipe for disaster. Even if they are able to score, the Lakers will have to heavily rely on LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the defensive end in that scenario.
Therefore, Laker fans are not holding back their words and some have even declared that their chances of having an impact in the playoffs no longer exist, “Seasons over boys.”
Seasons over boys✌🏿🤦🏿♂️🔫
— devowhipsit 🔝🔜 (@devowhipsit) February 12, 2024
i envision a new head coach
— nick rufo (@nickjrufo) February 13, 2024
He is a sabotager
— 🇵🇷 (@SmaggLakers) February 12, 2024
Some have even questioned Ham’s caliber of a coach since he is entertaining such questionable lineups at this point in the season. Others accused him of purposely trying to sabotage his own team. In any case, only time will tell whether the Lakers coach or fans are right about this potential starting lineup.