Kemba Walker was an NBA All-Star while averaging 19.3 points for the Boston Celtics just two seasons ago. Yet, after a failed venture to the New York Knicks and with a continual knee issue, his NBA career tilts in an uncertain position.
The downfall has come quickly for Walker, seen by many as the missing piece to a New York team that finished fourth in the Eastern Conference in the 2020-21 season. But after just 37 games, the two sides agreed that the four-time All-Star would sit the remainder of the season.
Then, on draft night last Thursday, Walker was traded to the Detroit Pistons in a salary dumping move by the Knicks. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Walker will likely become a free agent after completing a buyout with Detroit.
Kemba Walker and the Pistons are expected to discuss a contract buyout that will allow him to become a free agent, sources tell ESPN. Walker landed with Detroit as part of three-way trade with Charlotte and New York.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 24, 2022
3 best landing spots for Kemba Walker to revive his career
As an offensive initiator and high-level three-point shooter, it’s hard to envisage Walker not getting another opportunity somewhere in the league. The issue is that everyone (teams, media, and fans) need to forget the previous expectations set upon him.
Walker has been a starter ever since his second year in the league. But he’s simply not that anymore, with the once explosive quick first step vanishing thanks to injury. It means the offensive capacity no longer overshadows the obvious defensive limitations he’s always had at six feet tall.
Still, there’s no reason Walker can’t be a backup point guard in need of a steady presence off the bench. With that in mind, let’s look at three teams where Walker could thrive in such a role.
3 best landing spots for Kemba Walker to revive his career: Phoenix Suns
After promising development in the 2020-21 season, Cameron Payne’s end to this season mirrored that of his team. By the end of the second round against the Dallas Mavericks, the 27-year-old was cast as an observer with Monty Williams using a backcourt duo of Devin Booker and Landry Shamet in the second unit.
Much of that had to do with Payne shooting a horrid 16.7% from three during the playoffs. It’ll be interesting to see how the Suns view him moving forward, because if they’re not confident in him, then Walker could present as an alternative option.
Walker can still shoot the ball at a high-level, knocking down at least 36% of his three-point attempts in six of his seven seasons. He could foreseeably take Payne’s role and average 10-15 minutes per game next season.
Walker would be a backup to 38-year-old Chris Paul, someone who’s already been through his own career revival in Oklahoma and now Phoenix. Granted, Walker has never reached the caliber of Paul throughout his career, but who knows, maybe the latter can shed some information on body management and ultimately defying father time for a little while longer.
3 best landing spots for Kemba Walker to revive his career: 2. Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks went into the postseason with a 36-year-old George Hill and a largely unproven Jevon Carter as the primary backups to Jrue Holiday. What those two produced was, well, nothing short of very little. Hill averaged one point on 20% shooting across 15.3 minutes per game, while Carter posted 2.1 points in 11.4 minutes.
Walker can, unlike those two, possess an explosive scoring output, even if it’s in a reduced role going forward. Maybe he gets hot from deep and gives you 15 points in 15 minutes that may help win a playoff game.
The Bucks needed more playoff-worthy players by the end of their grueling series with the Boston Celtics. Maybe Walker’s defensive issues would have prevented him from being that, but still, he would have provided some sort of offensive option at the very least.
Milwaukee shot a disappointing 32.7% from distance during the playoffs, an aspect Walker could help with as a constant perimeter threat over his 11-year career.
Perhaps the defensive prowess of Jrue Holiday could mask Walker’s deficiencies, while superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the best help defenders in the league for when Walker inevitably gets blown by off the dribble.
3 best landing spots for Kemba Walker to revive his career: 3. Toronto Raptors
Similar to the Bucks, Toronto’s lack of depth became glaringly apparent even during the regular season. Nick Nurse cut down his rotation and put a heavy workload on his starting players, a move that paid dividends, getting them the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference.
It did, however, come back to bite them against the Philadelphia 76ers, with injuries hitting as the Raptors went down 4-2 in the first round. Moving forward, their backup point guards are developing players in Dalano Banton and Malachi Flynn.
If the Raptors see themselves as deep playoff contenders next season, they may be well versed to look at Walker as a more experienced option behind Fred VanVleet. You could realistically see Walker working in Toronto’s system, playing a very similar role to VanVleet, minus the defensive capabilities.
Again, similar to Milwaukee, the Raptors shot a woeful 29.9% from three in their series against Philadelphia. Additionally, they finished with a league average (15th ranked) offensive rating during the regular season, emphasizing the need for more offensive options to complement their top ten defense.
Whichever team Walker does end up on, it needs to be one ideally vying for a championship next season. His days as a starting point guard are over and, even despite being a strong locker room presence, he makes little sense for a team in a rebuilding situation.