Kemba Walker finds himself in the same position as he was last year after a disappointing Knicks homecoming: Getting a contract buyout to enter NBA free agency.
After the Knicks traded the 32-year-old to the Pistons on draft night to shed his $9.1 million salary for next season, Detroit is buying out the final year of Walker’s contract, ESPN reported Thursday morning. NBA free agency is set to officially begin at 6 p.m.
Walker signed a two-year contract with the Knicks last summer in a much-ballyhooed homecoming for the Bronx native after he was bought out by the Thunder following a trade from the Celtics.
While the four-time All-Star had his moments, but he was at one point benched by Tom Thibodeau, and the knee concerns that shrouded the signing came to fruition, limiting Walker to 37 games. On Feb. 23, Walker and the Knicks agreed he would not play the remainder of the season. He finished the season averaging 11.6 points, 3.5 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game — all career lows.
The Pistons are buying out Kemba Walker’s contract following his trade from the Knicks, and he will enter NBA free agency.Charles Wenzelberg/New York PostThe Knicks appear to be all-in on signing Jalen Brunson in NBA free agency to fix the point guard problem Walker didn’t solve.
