One of the more surprising trades of the 2022 NBA Draft occurred between the New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets. It was a big trade with a lot of moving parts, but the goal for New York was to shed as much salary as possible.
The Knicks acquired a 2025 first-round pick via the Milwaukee Bucks from Detroit. Detroit acquired Kemba Walker and received the No. 13 overall pick, the draft rights to Jalen Duren. The Hornets received a 2023 first-round pick via the Denver Nuggets from the Oklahoma City Thunder and Knicks, along with the four future second-rounders.
For Walker, the Pistons are the fourth franchise he has been a part of in the last year, but he will be seeking his fifth in a short period of time. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Walker and the Pistons are finalizing a buyout. Once he clears waivers, he will become a free agent.
It has been a tumultuous few seasons for Walker who has battled injuries, which led to the Boston Celtics trading him to the Thunder last offseason. Oklahoma City bought him out and the Knicks signed him to be their starting point guard, hoping he had something left in the tank. Unfortunately, that was not the case.
LATEST NBA FREE AGENCY NEWS AND TRADE RUMORS: 3 Ideal Offseason Trade Destinations For Kemba Walker
While Walker wasn’t the sole reason for the team’s struggles, he was a big part of them. He struggled mightily on defense, more so than previously in his career. The New York Knicks didn’t have the pieces to overcome his struggles, which led to him being removed from the rotation twice.
Walker likely won’t have a robust market this offseason, but he can still provide a little bit of scoring punch for a team. Tom Thibodeau didn’t view him as a reserve player, but coming off the bench is likely what he is best suited for at this point in his career.
LATEST NBA FREE AGENCY NEWS AND TRADE RUMORS: 3 Ideal Offseason Trade Destinations For Kemba Walker
His 3-point shooting will likely get him a look, as a team such as the Los Angeles Lakers will likely poke around on him as they need all the help they can get. The Miami Heat could use some affordable scoring and the Dallas Mavericks may need another point guard as well.
Kemba Walker likely won’t be the first option for many teams, but in a specific role, he can still help a team win a few games next season.
