Aug. 26, 1999
SportsLine wire reports

SAN ANTONIO -- The San Antonio Spurs did not take long to fill the vacancy left on the bench by Will Perdue, signing free-agent forward Samaki Walker on Thursday to an undisclosed contract.

	Related Links: Elliott leaves hospital nine days after transplant Perdue returns to Bulls 1999 NBA Free Agents Forum: Will the Spurs repeat?
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Making a new home will not be a long trip for the 6-9, 258-pound Walker, who spent his first three seasons in Dallas, located just a few hours north of San Antonio.

The Spurs lost the 7-foot Perdue, who filled quality minutes off the bench spelling "Twin Towers" Tim Duncan and David Robinson, on Wednesday when he signed with the Chicago Bulls.

The 23-year-old Walker is known as a banger under the boards, having averaged just under five rebounds in less than 18 minutes per game during his NBA career. He averaged 5.9 points and 3.7 boards in 39 games for Dallas last season, playing just 14.6 minutes per game.

His best season came during the 1997-98 campaign, when he averaged 8.9 points and 7.4 boards in 41 games. He scored a career-high 26 points at Houston on January 13, 1998, and grabbed a career-best 20 rebounds against Charlotte less than two weeks later.

Walker, who has averaged 6.6 points in 123 NBA games, left Louisville after his sophomore season. He contributed 15.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game that season and recorded the only triple-double in school history with 14 points, 10 boards and 11 blocks.

Perdue missed 13 games due to injury last season and saw his playing time cut slightly with the improved play of reserve forward Malik Rose, who in turn could take time away from Walker. The 6-7, 250-pound Rose, who re-signed with San Antonio two weeks ago, averaged 6.0 points and 3.9 rebounds last season.

Despite the emergence of Rose and the domination of Duncan and Robinson, Walker may see additional minutes depending on the return date of small forward Sean Elliott, who recently received a kidney transplant from his brother.

The Spurs have also re-signed guard Jaren Jackson and added veteran guard Terry Porter during this offseason.