The former Celtics point guard is rumored to be available for trade before the February 10 trade deadline.
Getty Kemba Walker, Boston Celtics When the Boston Celtics traded away Kemba Walker during the off-season the move made perfect sense. Walker was hindered by knee injuries and was seemingly incapable of participating in back-to-back games. But when the New York Knicks decided to take a flyer on a hometown product following Walker’s buyout from the Oklahoma City Thunder, Celtics fans were happy to see their former guard get another opportunity. Things started off well enough for the Bronx native, over his first ten games, the veteran guard averaged 12.2 points,3.2 assists,3 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game, on 43% shooting from the field and a mind-blowing 45% shooting from three-point range. But as the season wore on, those pesky knee issues began to surface, and Walker’s impact rapidly dwindled. Knicks have a 116.3 defensive rating and a -13.3 net rating with Kemba Walker on the court, per @HoopsRumors. Coach Tom Thibodeau has benched Walker. Now, Thibs will start Alec Burks at point guard. New York has a +5.2 net rating with Burks on the court. pic.twitter.com/sGfSqffJXi Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) November 29,2021 Just nine games later, head coach Tom Thibodeau decided it was in the team’s best interest if Walker was removed from the rotation entirely, “It’s a tough decision to make but you always have to do what you think is best for the team,” the Knicks head coach said at the time. Eventually, Walker fought his way back into the Knicks rotation and proved to be a stable presence off the bench for them.
