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Kemba Walker to the Knicks was announced on Wednesday. Per Adrian Wojnarowski, Walker and the Thunder agreed to a buyout on Wednesday. After clearing waivers, he intends to sign with the Knicks.
It was reported that New York is planning to offer Walker a contract worth roughly $8 million. It seems that their remaining cap space will be used to sign him.
Kemba Walker to Knicks analysis
Expectations were high to land a top-tier point guard like Chris Paul and Kyle Lowry in the Knicks free agency but it never happened. Instead, they got a veteran point guard who was a four-time All-Star.
There’s also an extra incentive since Walker is a Bronx native. Signing with New York is a homecoming for him.
Contract buyout
There were a lot of Kemba Walker trade rumors but they never come to fruition. The Thunder actively shopped him on the trade market but his bloated $140 million contract is too much for teams to acquire the often-injured veteran guard.
This buyout is good for both parties although it’s going to cost the Thunder a lot of money. Sam Presti and Walker’s agents worked through a buyout on the remaining two years $74 million on his contract in recent days.
As you can see, Walker simply doesn’t make sense in Oklahoma City. The Thunder are fully embracing their youth movement. Remember what happened to Al Horford last season? He was shut down for the rest of the season because he doesn’t fit their timeline.
This move opens more playing time for ball handlers such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Theo Maledon, and Josh Giddey.
What Kemba can bring to New York
Walker was plagued by injuries for the past couple of seasons. His lingering left knee injury hindered him throughout the 2020-2021 season where he only played 43 games. He finished with 19.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.9 assists on 42% shooting and 3.0 three-pointers made.
Upgrading the point guard position is the main priority in the Knicks offseason. They badly need a playmaker who can shoot the three-ball and create shots for himself. The signing of Walker and Fournier instantly address their backcourt woes.
His arrival at New York gives them another star next to Julius Randle and RJ Barrett. His three-point shooting and iso scoring are much needed in their stagnant offense. After all, the Knicks ranked 22nd in the league in offensive efficiency. Having Walker means they don’t have to rely on Randle to create his own shot in every possession.
Barring any injuries, Walker can return to his former All-Star form. Moreover, he doesn’t need to rely on himself every night since the Knicks have a lot of offensive options. Keeping him healthy is key.
Conclusion
This is a great move for the Knicks.
Kemba’s signing could catapult them into a deep playoff run. New York’s starting lineup could potentially look like this: Kemba Walker, Evan Fournier, RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, and Mitchell Robinson. Meanwhile, their bench includes Immanuel Quickley, Derrick Rose, Alec Burks, Obi Toppin, Taj Gibson, and Nerlens Noel. That’s a deep and scary lineup.
Acquiring a veteran point guard for such a good deal is simply icing on the cake. The Knicks had a great offseason with their acquisitions. They were already a great defensive team. Acquiring Walker and Fournier addresses their problems offensively.
Moreover, they only lost Elfrid Payton and Reggie Bullock in the lineup. Now, it’s time for them to deliver and crush next season. It was a great Knicks free agency.
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