5 Lakers Playing Their Final Postseason in Los Angeles
2. Taurean Prince, SF/SG
In a season where the Lakers' lineup has been riddled by injuries, Taurean Prince has been a consistent presence. You only need one hand to count the number of games that the veteran wing has missed this season and, fortunately, he's made the most of his opportunities.
Prince does a little bit of everything, averaging around nine points, three rebounds, and nearly two assists per game. He's made a career of being a deep threat, which is a trend that has continued into his eighth NBA campaign as he averages 1.8 threes made with a 39.4% success rate.
As solid as Prince has been, there's also a chance that he will depart the City of Angels this offseason. The 30-year-old is slated to hit free agency this summer and will likely weigh his options. Considering how the Lakers were only willing to re-sign him to a one-year deal last offseason, it's safe to say that the team might not be too keen to keep him around for the long term.
I think Prince is serviceable and I wouldn't mind him returning on another one-year contract, but if he wants to test his worth in free agency, you can't blame him for trying.
3. Spencer Dinwiddie, PG/SG
Spencer Dinwiddie was a late addition to the 2023-24 Lakers roster. After being traded from the Brooklyn Nets to the Toronto Raptors at the trade deadline, the veteran point guard was waived by the Raptors, allowing him to sign with Los Angeles for the remainder of the year.
It's safe to say that Dinwiddie has not lived up to expectations since joining the Lakers. The ex-Colorado product is averaging about 6.8 points, 2.5 assists, and 1.7 rebounds while playing nearly 25 minutes per outing. While his 38.6% shooting on 3.3 three-point attempts per game is solid, he's only tallying an uninspiring 39.4% success rate from the field.
What's disappointing is how much worse Dinwiddie's play has gotten since leaving Brooklyn. He went from an average of 20.3 points and 9.7 assists per 100 possessions with the Nets to 13.2 and 4.8, respectively during his time with the Lakers. It's clear that he just isn't a good fit for Darvin Ham's lineup.
Like Prince, Dinwiddie is also an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Given how he's played since the trade deadline, I don't see the Lakers being on board to re-sign him. Maybe he has something left in the tank, but he likely needs a fresh start to figure that out.