Mavericks add Kidd-Gilchrist
The Dallas Mavericks added veteran Michael Kidd-Gilchrist to their young core as they close in on the franchise’s first trip to the playoffs in four years.
Kidd-Gilchrist, the No. 2 pick in the 2012 draft, signed with the Mavericks after taking a buyout from the Charlotte Hornets. Dallas waived Ryan
Broekhoff to make room for Kidd-Gilchrist.
The 26-year-old KiddGilchrist, drafted by Charlotte behind former Kentucky teammate Anthony Davis, had fallen out of the rotation with the Hornets and appeared in only 12 games this season before being waived.
At 6-6 and 230 pounds in his eighth season, KiddGilchrist gives Dallas the size and experience to help defend some of the elite forwards in the rugged Western Conference.
But offense will be the bigger question in a scheme that relies heavily on 3-point shooting. KiddGilchrist shoots 28 percent from 3-point range for his career and has career averages of 8.6 points and 5.5 rebounds.
Meanwhile, Mavericks guard Luka Doncic said he intends to play Wednesday night against Sacramento after missing seven games with a sprained right ankle.
In other news:
• Two-time WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne signed a four-year contract to stay with the Washington Mystics after leading the team to its first league championship.
In addition to winning a title and MVP honors, Delle Donne was a member of the all-WNBA first team for the second year in a row. She averaged 19.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists last season.
• The Connecticut Sun traded for forward DeWanna Bonner, sending the Phoenix Mercury three first-round draft picks for the All-Star. Phoenix received the No. 7 and 10 overall picks in this year’s draft as well as the Sun’s first-round pick next year.
Bonner, 32, had played her entire career with the Mercury after getting drafted fifth in 2009. She is the franchise’s all-time leading rebounder and second on the scoring list behind Diana Taurasi.
• The Minnesota Lynx hired Rebekkah Brunson as an assistant coach, as the WNBA’s all-time leading rebounder announced her retirement after 15 seasons that included five WNBA titles, including four with the Lynx.