![]() The Knicks, who appear finished making significant offseason moves, have a real possibility of maintaining their fourth-seed standing in the Eastern Conference if Walker returns to All-Star form and center Mitchell Robinson also stays healthy. Regardless, OKC stands to save more money than if Walker was waived in the preseason and signed a minimum $2 million deal elsewhere. The Thunder could also follow the CBA’s offset rules when Walker signs his new Knicks deal, allowing them to recoup money that way. Kemba Walker facing the Nets in the 2021 playoffs. The Thunder were motivated to buy out Walker now rather than later as it could allow them to save more money.īecause the Knicks have the necessary cap space to sign Walker, OKC’s buyout agreement could be more favorable, with potentially $9 million in savings. It’s been awhile since I’ve really had time off. I’m planning on a big summer and getting myself feeling good again. I want to continue to get healthy and get better. “It’s a tough situation, but I have to look ahead. “I’d anything I can to help teammates win a game, and because I couldn’t do that, I’m really down. I’m a competitor and I love to play basketball,” Walker said after the playoff elimination. “The last thing you want to do is be injured and not be there in the playoffs for your teammates. Walker showed glimpses last season, averaging 20 points and five assists after the All-Star break.īut his injury worsened in the Celtics’ 4-1 first-round series loss to the Nets, as he missed two games and looked shot. Walker signed a four-year, $140 million deal with the Celtics in 2019 and has two years and $74 million left. But there was no trade market for Walker given his max contract and injury history. The Thunder acquired Walker from the Celtics in June for the purpose of flipping him. “The Knicks get a four-time All-Star, a great dude in the locker room and a winner.’’ Kemba Walker is joining the Knicks. “I think it’s a great move for both parties,’’ one NBA GM said. Walker likely will start as Rose thrived in a backup role last season, when the Knicks went 24-11 in games he played and 17-20 when he wasn’t in the lineup or on the roster. The move looks like a winner, so long as Rose and Walker don’t have serious knee troubles with their checkered health histories. Knicks president Leon Rose believes the team achieved continuity and flexibility - while boasting two upgrades in Walker over Elfrid Payton and Fournier over the departed Reggie Bullock. Seemingly all said and done, the Knicks brass is excited about its free-agency additions and filling its crying need for a starting-caliber point guard. Walker will take up the rest of the roughly $8 million-$9 million in the team’s cap space. “They have added two guys in Fournier and Walker who can get their own shot, which I believe was a huge deficit on their team last year.” ![]() “Even if he plays three-quarters of the season, it’s a nice move,” one NBA personnel director said. The 31-year-old’s play slipped this past season as he dealt with a left knee injury, playing in 43 of 72 games with Boston and net at all in back-to-backs. The Knicks feel Walker, who played at Rice High School in Harlem then at UConn, can still be an All-Star-caliber guard if his body is right after an injury-ravaged 2020-21 campaign. The Bronx native has agreed to sign with the Knicks and form a point guard tandem with Derrick Rose after being bought out by the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, according to an NBA source. Knicks legendary voice knew Willis Reed would play in Game 7 of 1970 finals Knicks star finding inspiration in late Willis Reed’s legacy Walt Frazier devastated by loss of Willis Reed Knicks have no answers for Heat as East playoff race tightens ![]()
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