San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Dinwiddie eyes hometown Lakers
Spencer Dinwiddie plans to sign with his hometown Los Angeles Lakers, a person with knowledge of the details told The Associated
Press on Saturday.
The point guard was traded by the Brooklyn Nets to Toronto on Thursday and then was waived. He will become a free agent and is eligible to sign a new contract once he clears waivers.
He made up his mind before then, the person told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because no contract can be signed yet.
Dinwiddie's plans were first reported by The Athletic.
Dinwiddie started 48 games this season for the Nets, averaging 12.6 points and 6.0 assists. He had returned for his second stint in Brooklyn just before last year's trade deadline, coming from Dallas as part of the package for Kyrie Irving.
The Mavericks were also believed to be interested in a reunion with Dinwiddie, who attended their game against the Knicks in
New York on Thursday night.
But the 30-year-old Dinwiddie instead is heading to the city where he was born and graduated from William Howard Taft High School. He figures to back up D'Angelo Russell, a former teammate in Brooklyn who scored 30 points Friday in a 139-122 victory over New Orleans with Dinwiddie in attendance sitting next to Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka.
Sixers ‘hopeful’ Embiid returns
Philadelphia 76ers team president Daryl Morey expressed optimism on Friday that reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid would return from a knee injury in time for a possible postseason run.
“We're hopeful,” Morey said before the 76ers' 127-121 loss to the Atlanta
Hawks, three days after Embiid underwent surgery on his left knee. “Feedback has been more good than bad since we first heard about what led to his procedure. So, we're hopeful and we're building the team to make it better this year. Obviously, it's not at 100%. But with Joel playing at an MVP level, hopefully, he could get back to that. And this is a year that we have a real shot.”
Asked if his approach at the trade deadline would have been different depending on Embiid's injury news, Morey was clear.
“If the hope wasn't there in Joel, I think it would have changed things dramatically,” Morey said. “We're very hopeful. Obviously for sure, it's not 100%. It's something that is probably unfortunately a good chunk short of 100%. But we thought it was the right thing.”
Embiid, averaging 35.3 points and 11.3 rebounds in 39 games, has missed the last six games since Golden State forward Jonathan Kuminga fell on his left leg, injuring the meniscus that required surgery on Tuesday.
Morey declined to describe the exact procedure that Embiid had, which would have provided a clue to the significance of the injury.
Friday’s highlights
Jayson Tatum scored 35 points and sparked a third-quarter rally to help the NBA-leading Celtics get their 40th win of the season, 133-129 over the Washington Wizards in Boston . ... Doc Rivers won his 1,099th regularseason game to move into eighth place on the NBA's list, Damian Lillard scored 26 points in his return from a two-game injury absence and the host Bucks sent the Hornets to their 10th straight loss 120-84 . ... Immanuel Quickley scored 25 points, RJ Barrett had 21 and host Toronto beat the Rockets 107-104 for their fourth straight home win over the Rockets.