Mavs adding Walker
The Mavericks plan to sign four-time All-star and free agent Kemba Walker, adding a veteran NBA presence Dallas' backcourt with Luka Doncic.
“We wanted to add some flexibility to our offense,” Mavericks owner Mark Cuban told the Dallas Morning News on Monday. “Like last year at this point, we have great shot quality, particularly from the 3, but we have struggled to make enough of them. Kemba will give (coach Jason Kidd)more offensive flexibility.”
Walker, 32, finalized a contract buyout with the Detroit Pistons over the summer after being traded there by the New York Knicks during the NBA draft.
He averaged 11.6 points and 3.0 rebounds in 37 games last season, but he missed the back half of the 2021-22 season after reaching an agreement with the Knicks to allow him to recover from knee issues and prepare for the 2022-23 season.
Walker was an Allstar in the Eastern Conference for four straight seasons from 2016-20 with Charlotte and Boston. Charlotte drafted him with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2011 draft.
To make room for Walker, the Mavericks waived guard Facundo Campazzo.
Dallas signed Campazzo, a former teammate of Doncic with Real Madrid, last month. The guard appeared in eight games for the Mavericks, averaging 1.3 points in 6.5 minutes per game.
The Mavericks are on a season-worst four-game losing streak and have dropped below .500 after reaching the Western Conference finals last season.
The Mavericks lost Jalen Brunson to the New York Knicks in free agency
after he flourished playing next to Doncic, and Brunson played a big role in Dallas winning playoff games without its three-time All-star.
The loss of Brunson also cost the Mavericks one of their two primary ball-handlers behind Doncic. Spencer Dinwiddie has had to carry most of that load this season.
The shooters around Doncic also have been struggling, with Dorian Finney-smith, Reggie Bullock and Tim Hardaway going in and out of slumps so far.
On Tuesday, the Mavericks
face the defending NBA champion Warriors, who knocked them out of the playoffs a season ago.
Clippers’ Zubac gets 29 rebounds
Ivica Zubac had the best game of his six-year NBA career Sunday afternoon. But the Los Angeles Clippers center was frustrated after picking up his sixth foul late in the fourth quarter.
It's understandable, considering Zubac was one rebound away from having the fourth 30point,
30-rebound game in the NBA since 1981.
“I was mad at myself because I wanted to get that 30 and 30 so bad. It hurts. It's definitely not as happy as I should be,” said Zubac, who had 31 points and 29 rebounds in the Clippers' 114-100 victory over the visiting Pacers.
“I was just mad at myself for going for it, but I just I can't help myself. Every time I see someone trying to get away, I try to block it.”
It was the third time since 1973-74 that a player has put up a 31-point, 29-rebound, three-block line in a game. Hall of Famer Kareem Abduljabbar was the last to accomplish it, on Feb. 3, 1978, at New Jersey.
Zubac had a career high in total rebounds and offensive boards with 12. It is also the most rebounds in a game this season.
“It's crazy. I always wanted to get a 20/20 game,” Zubac said. “It's crazy to be mentioned with Kareem. It's incredible.”
Zubac made a pair of free throws with 3:46 remaining for the second 30-point game of his career. But his hopes of getting the league's fourth 30-point/30-rebound rebound game and first since 2018 ended six seconds later when he picked up his sixth foul while trying to block T.J. Mcconnell's shot.
“He was just ready to go. He's been good for us all year,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “It was great to see him rewarded with a big game like this. Guys being happy for him, looking for him in the paint and boxing out so he can rebound the ball.”