KEY POINTS

  • Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau relegates Kemba Walker to the bench
  • Thibodeau’s move spurs potential trade scenarios involving Walker
  • A source claims the Knicks could engage in a trade with the Rockets for John Wall

The New York Knicks have to make some changes, including tough ones to find the best solution for the team.

It appears head coach Tom Thibodeau had to make that crucial decision and took out prized offseason recruit Kemba Walker from the Knicks rotation.

According to a tweet by Fred Katz of The Athletic, Thibodeau has taken out Walker from the regular rotation “as of right now.”

“It’s a tough decision to make, but you always have to do what you think is best for the team,” Thibodeau said on Monday in a report by ESPN. “I view Kemba as a starter, and so it’d be tough to play three small guards together. I gave it consideration, and I’ve got great respect for who Kemba is as a person and all he’s accomplished in this league.”

Thibodeau added that he needed to do what was best for the team. Hence, Walker will be benched in favor of Alec Burks.

It appears the move stemmed from Burks’ 23-point explosion over the weekend against the Atlanta Hawks.

Walker did not see action in that game after firing 17 points for the Knicks in a loss to the Phoenix Suns the night before.

"I want to tighten the rotation. I liked the way the team functioned, so it will be similar to what we did in the Atlanta game,” Thibodeau stated.

Looking ahead, unnamed sources mentioned by the Bleacher Report suggest that the Knicks could be up to something by the NBA trade deadline on February 10.

The source, allegedly close to the Knicks, suggested that New York may have a potential trade partner in the Houston Rockets.

The person of interest in the deal would be John Wall.

Wall has yet to play this season for the Rockets although a recent report revealed that the All-Star guard has approached Rockets’ management to potentially play this season.

Ironically, both Wall and Walker have had their share of injuries the past seasons.

But with the 31-year-old Walker struggling to help the Knicks to a more respectable performance this 2021-22 season, a changing of veteran guards could make sense.

Kemba Walker #8 of the New York Knicks
Kemba Walker #8 of the New York Knicks Getty Images | Patrick McDermott
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