Mavericks’ Search For A Backup Point Guard Returns To Square One After Waiving Kemba Walker

The Dallas Mavericks announced Friday that they waived veteran point guard and former four-time All-Star Kemba Walker. Dallas signed Walker to a rest-of-season contract on November 29, 2022. He appeared in nine games with the Mavericks.

Although his opportunities were limited, he scored a season-high 32 points with five rebounds and seven assists when he got a chance to start and play significant minutes against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Now, with Walker gone, the Mavericks have an open roster spot and a need for another ball handler.

“Kemba did everything we asked,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd told the media Friday. “He’s an incredible pro, a vet in that locker room. There’s no telling that our paths could probably pass here in the future with a 10-day [contract].

“As of right now, we look at having that roster spot open—flexibility. Maybe there’s someone else out there that we may take a look at first before revisiting bringing Kemba back.”

While the door is still open for Walker’s return, it’s apparent that the Mavericks waived him for financial reasons. His $1.39 million contract would have become guaranteed on Saturday. As it is, he walks away, having earned $684,712, according to Spotrac.

Walker showed some potential, given his years of experience. However, his lingering knee issues have hobbled him since he arrived in Dallas. The four-game stretch in which he averaged 24.8 minutes, including 42 minutes against the Cavaliers, may have been more than his knee could handle.

Dallas brought in Walker, and Facundo Campazzo before him, to address a glaring roster need that went unaddressed during the offseason: an additional point guard to run the team’s bench unit. It is something that has tormented the team all season.

After the botched attempt to re-sign Jalen Brunson, subsequently watching him leave for the New York Knicks and getting nothing in return, the Mavericks have been grasping at straws, trying to find a suitable replacement.

Opening a roster spot allows Dallas’ pursuit anew, returning the Mavericks to square one. Given the team’s need for bodies, three key rotation players—Dorian Finney-Smith, Josh Green and Maxi Kleber—are out with injuries; the Mavericks may not have the luxury of targeting a point guard for a 10-day contract.

Still, a backup point guard is in high demand. Until they fill that role, rookie Jaden Hardy and two-way player McKinley Wright IV could see more opportunities.