Is Kemba Walker A Good Fit For The Knicks? Star Guard Likely Won't See Same Fate As Other Busts

Kemba Walker is heading home.

The star guard will reportedly sign with the New York Knicks after being bought out of his contract by the Oklahoma City Thunder. It’s a potentially perfect fit for a team that desperately needs a point guard and a player who is looking to prove that he still has plenty left in the tank.

A New York native, Walker grew up in the Bronx and attended Rice High School, fewer than eight miles away from Madison Square Garden. Walker remained in the northeast when he played college basketball at UConn for three seasons. He owns some of the most memorable performances in MSG history, leading the Huskies through the 2011 Big East Tournament before winning a national title.

After spending the first eight seasons of his NBA career with the Charlotte Hornets, Walker seriously considered signing with the Knicks as a free agent. The 31-year-old instead chose the Boston Celtics, with whom he played each of the last two seasons.

While it makes for a potentially great story, the Knicks know all-too-well that Walker’s New York roots don’t mean he’ll find success back home.

The Knicks’ trade for hometown point guard Stephon Marbury in 2004 was a flop, resulting in zero playoff wins during his five-year stint with the team. Carmelo Anthony made seven All-Star teams with New York from 2011 to 2017, but the forward‘s tenure at MSG was ultimately a disappointment.

Boston had to trade a first-round pick, along with Walker, in order to entice Oklahoma City to take on Walker’s contract. The two years and $74 million left on Walker’s deal made him a troubled asset because of his lingering knee injury.

Walker missed 45 games over the last two seasons. There’s a concern that chronic knee issues will plague the rest of his career. Over the last two decades, the Knicks have added numerous marquee players—Antonio McDyess, Steve Francis and Tracy McGrady, just to name a few—who were past their prime and declined even further in the Big Apple.

But there are reasons to be optimistic about Walker’s homecoming.

Unlike Marbury or Anthony, Walker isn’t being pegged as the Knicks’ potential savior. Walker won’t be asked to be the team’s leading scorer. He might not even be one of New York’s top-three options on many nights.

Julius Randle has established himself as the Knicks’ best scorer. New York signed Evan Fournier in free agency to bolster the offense. Walker is expected to share the point guard duties with veteran Derrick Rose and second-year player Immanuel Quickley, allowing the Knicks to limit Walker’s minutes and potentially give him a better chance to stay healthy.

Even in an injury-plagued 2020-21 season, Walker still managed to average 19.3 points, 4.9 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game. Walker is only 18 months removed from starting in the 2020 All-Star Game. He was an All-Star in each of the previous three seasons, earning a four-year, $140 million contract from the Celtics just two years ago.

With Walker signing a contract worth a reported $8 million per season, it’s a low-risk move for the Knicks.

As the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference, the Knicks were arguably the regular season's biggest overachievers. Their offensive struggles were amplified in the playoffs, where the Atlanta Hawks quickly eliminated New York in their first-round series.

The Knicks lacked a steady starting point guard, and they failed to acquire one in the first 30 hours of free agency. Chris Paul, Kyle Lowry, Lonzo Ball, Mike Conley and Spencer Dinwiddie all signed elsewhere. It appeared that New York would enter next season without having filled its biggest need.

If Walker can come at all close to replicating his past production, it’ll prove to be a worthwhile signing for the Knicks.