The New York Knicks have been extremely active during the NBA’s free agency season, agreeing to contracts that will retain Alec Burks, Nerlens Noel, and Derrick Rose in the city, as well as a deal with Evan Fournier. The team apparently planned to make its greatest splash yet on Wednesday morning, sending one of the city’s favorite sons to New York for the first time in his career.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Kemba Walker have agreed to a buyout. Walker, a Bronx native, would make his way to the Knicks once that was settled out.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania confirmed the report shortly after.
Walker was acquired by the Thunder in a transaction that sent Al Horford to the Boston Celtics earlier this year. Walker’s contract had two years and $74 million left on it, but he plans to move to Manhattan rather than finish it. While there are worries about Walker’s ability to stay healthy because of persistent knee ailments from last season, he was an effective player for the Celtics when he was on the court. Last season, Walker averaged 19.3 points and 4.9 assists in 31.8 minutes per game, while connecting on 36% of his three-point tries.
