After removing Kemba Walker from their rotation on Monday, the Knicks have received inquiries from three teams asking about potential trades for the point guard, sources tell Jordan Schultz of the Pull Up Podcast (Twitter link).
According to Schultz (Twitter link), it’s unclear whether or not Walker is on the trade block after signing a two-year, $18M deal in the summer. A. Sherrod Blakely of Bleacher Report wrote Monday night that league sources believe New York will look to trade Walker, but it’s not clear whether those sources have any inside info or are just speculating.
Walker, who was an All-Star as recently as 2020, has been slowed by knee issues in recent years and was off to a slow start in his hometown this season. He averaged 11.7 PPG, 3.1 APG, and 2.6 RPG in 18 games (24.5 MPG) before being removed from the Knicks’ starting lineup and rotation.
Although Walker’s shooting numbers – including a .413 3PT% – remain solid, his defensive shortcomings have been especially glaring in New York. The Knicks have a 116.3 defensive rating and a -13.3 net rating with Walker on the court, compared to a 99.0 defensive rating and +11.2 net rating when he sits.
It remains to be seen how long the Knicks intend to keep Walker out of their rotation and whether he’ll benefit from resting his knees. If the team does consider moving him, it can’t happen yet — as an offseason signee, he doesn’t become trade-eligible until Dec. 15.
Walker is under contract for another year beyond this season, but his $9M annual cap hits would make him much easier to move than someone like John Wall, who is earning $45M+ per year.
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