Hours before free agency starts, the Detroit Pistons and former All-Star Kemba Walker are finalizing a contract buyout that will allow the point guard to become a free agent once he clears waivers, according to Adrian Wojnarowski from ESPN.
Four-time All-Star guard Kemba Walker and the Detroit Pistons are finalizing a contract buyout, sources tell ESPN. Once Walker clears waivers, he'll join free agency.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2022
Walker was traded on draft night in a deal that had everyone confused. In the end, he arrived to the Pistons along with the draft right of this year’s 13th pick Jalen Duren from the University of Memphis.
The four-time All-Star signed a two-year deal with the Knicks back in the summer of 2021 after he was waived by the Oklahoma City Thunder. Initially, Walker was the starting point guard for the team but as the season advanced he lost minutes, and eventually his spot in New York’s rotation.
Walker’s career has taken a turn after his time with the Charlotte Hornets. He played two seasons with the Boston Celtics, enjoying some personal and collaborative success. Injuries limit his playing time in the second season and was traded to the Thunder in the summer.
With the Knicks, Walker saw his worst season statistically playing 37 games with averages of 11.6 points, and 3.5 assists in 25.6 minutes per game, all of them career-lows.
