Why Kemba Walker does not need to be the savior for Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks have lost four straight games and five of their last six to fall to 9-10 on the season. Their rough stretch coupled with the team’s need for a third playmaker lead to the Mavs signing Kemba Walker. The four-time All-Star has struggled to stay healthy in recent years and his production has fallen off.

The Mavs are looking for a playmaking boost, but they do not view Walker as a savior. He is not going to play at an All-Star level. Dallas needs him to fill backup minutes and make plays. He averaged 11.6 points and 3.5 assists in 25.6 minutes per game last season for the Knicks, and the Mavs would be ecstatic about that production.

Dallas has hit a rough patch, but they do not need Kemba Walker to be their savior. The team just needs to play better moving forward, and here are three reasons why they will.

Why Kemba Walker doesn’t need to be Dallas Mavericks savior: 3. Poor shooting

The Mavs have been plagued by poor shooting, especially on open shots to begin the season. They take the fifth-most wide-open 3-point attempts in the league so far this season, but they are just 17th in percentage. On open threes, the Mavericks are second in attempts and 24th in percentage.

The Athletic’s Tim Cato made a compelling case (subscription required) that the Mavs do not have a 3-point shooter problem, but one from inside the arc. Dallas has multiple players shooting poorly from long range, including Luka Doncic. They are reliant on catch-and-shoot players, and those players need to make more shots to be effective.

The Mavs also need to trade for someone that creates their own shots and gets to the rim. Kemba Walker could be that option, but fans should not expect too much. Dallas should be focused on exploring the trade market to find another ball-handling upgrade.

Why Kemba Walker doesn’t need to be Dallas Mavericks savior: 2. Underperformance

Luka Doncic has been outstanding, and Spencer Dinwiddie has stepped nicely into the Jalen Brunson role from last season, but the rest of the roster is underperforming outside of Josh Green.

Christian Wood needs more minutes and shot attempts. Tim Hardaway Jr. and Reggie Bullock cannot throw the ball in the ocean right now. Dorian Finney-Smith is struggling to hit open jumpers. Maxi Kleber has made just 30.8 percent from 3-point range. JaVale McGee struggled so much that he slipped out of the rotation.

Having three players performing well and everybody else below the expected is a recipe for a struggling team. The Mavericks have a flawed roster, but they will play better. THJ and Bullock will not finish the season shooting under 30 percent from 3-point range. Doe-Doe and Maxi will rebound too. Eventually, Christian Wood will play more because Dallas does not have a better option.

Kemba Walker might make an impact or he could be on his way out of the NBA. It is an honest question after his recent injury struggles. Regardless, the rest of the roster will perform better. Even Luka Doncic is shooting just 30.7 percent from 3-point range. The 23-year-old will be closer to 35 percent at the end of the season even taking the most-difficult shot profile in the league.

The Dallas Mavericks will perform better. When? The night is always darkest just before dawn.

Why Kemba Walker doesn’t need to be Dallas Mavericks savior: 1. Luka for MVP

If the Mavericks want Luka Doncic to win MVP, they will all collectively have to play better. Number 77 leads the league in scoring, and he is top ten in assists and steals per game. He has the numbers and the advanced metrics, but the Mavs are going to have to be in the playoffs for Luka to win the award.

The organization is just hoping Kemba can help. They need 20 to 25 minutes per game from a third ball-handler that can get the offense rolling and attack the basket. The Mavericks do not need him to be an All-Star. They just need a solid backup point guard.

The front office may need to make more moves before the trade deadline if they want to reach their goals. Dallas is one of the worst rebounding teams in the league, and they struggle to protect the rim. They are not just finding fixes on their roster. The Mavs need reinforcements if they want to address those issues.

The Dallas Mavericks are a better team than they have played so far. Will they be back in the playoffs and make another deep run? They need Luka Doncic playing like the best player in the world and the front office to get him more help. Stay tuned to see if it happens.