The Dallas Mavericks are in the process of signing former All-Star guard Kemba Walker in hopes of improving their playmaking talent around Luka Dončić, per Marc Stein.
The Mavericks will waive Argentine guard Facundo Campazzo, whose deal was non-guaranteed, to open up a roster spot for Walker.
A four-time All-Star, Walker started 37 games with New York last season, averaging 11.6 ppg and 3.5 apg on .537 TS% before both parties came to a mutual agreement that Walker would sit out the remainder of the season after he fell out of the rotation.
On draft night, was traded to Detroit along with the draft rights to Jalen Duren, where he was waived.
He has spent the season training in Florida.
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At his peak, Walker was an elite scorer and a capable passer who toiled on some subpar Charlotte teams before linking up with Boston ahead of the 2019-20 season.
A durable guard earlier in his career, the 32-year-old has struggled through knee issues in recent years and has suffered a noticeable decline in burst and quickness.
Last season in New York, Walker shot the three-ball at a steady clip despite many of his looks being heavily-contested or off the bounce and was a useful passer and playmaker but struggled as an isolation scorer and had a difficult time finishing at the rim.
He is a hard-working defender but has had difficulties being a difference-maker on that end due to his small frame.
The departure of Jalen Brunson, who averaged 21.6 ppg and 3.7 apg across 18 playoff games last season, has left a major hole in Dallas’ rotation just a season on from their first Western Conference Finals appearance since 2011.
Dallas are currently on a four-game losing streak and have dropped to 9-10 on the year.
Dončić has put up MVP-calibre numbers – 33.1 ppg, 8.7 rpg and 8.4 apg – but the team has struggled to generate offence outside of him; their offence is still above league-average, however, their heliocentric approach is looking unsustainable long-term.
The Mavericks will host the Warriors tomorrow before a quick, two-game road trip to face the Pistons and the Knicks.
