Knicks Acquiring Bronx Native Kemba Walker: Report

2021 Play-In Tournament - Wizards v Celtics

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All-star point guard Kemba Walker is finally coming home.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports the Bronx native has agreed to a contract buyout with the Oklahoma City Thunder and, upon clearing waivers, will sign with the New York Knicks, sources confirmed.

Walker's agents at Excel Sports, Jeff Schwartz and Javon Phillips, and Thunder general manager Sam Presti reportedly reached an agreement on a buyout with two years and $74 million remaining on Walker's contract "in recent days," according to ESPN.

Oklahoma City acquired Walker, the No. 16 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft and a 2025 second-round pick from the Boston Celtics in exchange for former Celtics forward Al Horford, center Moses Brown and a 2023 second-round pick in June.

Prior to the trade from Boston, Bleacher Report's Farbod Esnaashari reported the hometown Knicks were monitoring the Bronx native's displeasure with the Celtics.

A source close to Walker's camp told Bleacher Report the point guard wanted to be in a winning situation, which would include both New York and the Dallas Mavericks -- both of whom had tradeable assets and cap space at the time of the report -- as potential options.

Walker, a four-time NBA All-Star, averaged 19.3 points per age, 4.9 assists and 3.6 rebounds in 43 games for the Celtics during the 2020-21 season.

The former UConn standout was selected at No. 9 overall by the then-Charlotte Bobcats and spent eight seasons in the Queen City before signing with the Celtics in 2019.


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