Arrived with great fanfare in New York last summer, Kemba Walker saw his dream turn into a nightmare. And the sentence, irrevocable this time, has just fallen on the side of the Big Apple…
By signing Kemba Walker for 2 years and less than $20 million, the Knicks thought they had hit the market hard. Unfortunately for the Bronx native, who was all too happy to return to his hometown, things quickly turned sour. Out of address, confidence and plagued by physical concerns, the former All-Star was only a shadow of himself, to the point of being out of rotation in mid-November.
Later reinstated, Walker continued to struggle, averaging 8 points in 22 minutes over the Knicks’ last 8 games – including 7 losses. The franchise, in agreement with the player’s representative, has therefore decided that he will no longer wear the New York jersey until this summer, when he will be transferred.
The Knicks and Kemba Walker, it’s over
It was Adrian Wojnarowski who announced the news, while the return of Derrick Rose after 2 months of injury completes to seal the fate of “Cardiac Kemba”:
The New York Knicks and point guard Kemba Walker have agreed that the four-time All-Star will be sidelined for the remainder of the Knicks season, allowing him to train for his 2022-23 season, sources informed ESPN on Wednesday.
Walker will be on a contract expiring this summer, which will provide several opportunities for the Knicks and Walker’s agent to work on trade scenarios in the offseason.
There will indeed remain one year of contract at 9 million dollars for Kemba, and there is no doubt that he will not lack suitors despite his difficulties. So the Knicks will get something back in exchange for the player, rather than just cutting him off and getting nothing in return. Walker, he at least knows what to expect and can start preparing for his 2022-2023 season.
It is therefore a “win-win” scenario in the galley, even if the turn of events is obviously far from what had been imagined when the leader arrived. The passage of the ex-Hornet in NYC will have been lightning, with 37 games played for averages of 11 points, 3 rebounds and 3.5 assists, at 40% in shooting.
A sad end to the New York adventure for Kemba Walker, who never found his feet on the Manhattan side. Let’s hope that at 32, the point guard still has some room to bounce back after two inconclusive experiences in Boston and New York…
