kemba walker

Julius Randle is excited to play with new Knicks dynamic backcourt

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Opposing teams will now be wary of loading up on New York Knicks‘ All-Star Julius Randle next season with the arrival of the four-time All-Star point guard Kemba Walker and Frenchman shooter Evan Fournier.

Walker and Fournier, formally introduced as the newest Knicks Tuesday, are viewed as much-needed offensive upgrades to Elfrid Payton and Reggie Bullock.

“We’re going to be really good,” Walker said. “My ability to get in the lane. Hopefully, I can draw multiple defenders and just get rid of the basketball. Trusting my teammates. I know this guy [Evan] right here is going to light it up. For sure he’s going to shoot the crap out of the ball. We got a bunch of young guys who we just drafted who are really, really good, who I’ve been really impressed with watching summer league. And some of the other guys who have been here, the guys from last season. Me and Evan plan on coming here, bringing some leadership and just adding on to what they already got going.”

The Knicks’ new backcourt is expected to complement and space the floor for Randle, RJ Barrett, and Mitchell Robinson in the starting unit.

It was a solid offseason for the Knicks as they were able to upgrade and still maintain their bench depth with the re-signing of veterans Derrick Rose, Alec Burks, Nerlens Noel, and Taj Gibson, who all played vital roles in their surprising playoff run last season. Then there’s the pair of Immanuel Quickley and Obi Toppin, looking to improve on their sophomore year. Their rookies — Quentin Grimes, Miles McBride, and Jericho Sims — have shown plenty of promise in the NBA Summer League that they could be rotational players in their first year.

Their suddenly new-found depth is a welcome problem for two-time NBA Coach of the Year Tom Thibodeau.

Randle, whom the Knicks locked up for four more years via a $117-million extension, remains the key cog of the team. All the Knicks’ offseason moves were geared toward easing up the heavy load he carried last season as their offense went down with him when the Atlanta Hawks zeroed in on him in the playoffs.

“We brought back some key guys but you know, Leon (Rose) and Wes (William) and Scott (Perry), the guys did a great job of just making us a more versatile team, putting more shooting on the floor and guys that can create and get down shots as well. I’m just excited,” Randle said on The Jump, a few hours after the team’s introductory press conference for his new teammates, Walker and Fournier.

“It seems like these guys — just by talking to them, playing against them — will fit into our culture and will work out really well. So, that’s obviously a plus. I just think [the offseason moves] just make us a lot more dynamic.”

The Knicks’ offense will be more dynamic with Fournier, a better shot creator than Bullock, and Walker, who is miles ahead, a better playmaker and shotmaker than Payton.

It will also help that Walker and Fournier are coming in with an already established chemistry, having played together in the second half of last season with the Boston Celtics. What makes their addition more promising is their willingness to embrace reduced roles in Boston, which they are willing to do again in New York, judging from their introductory presser.

“It’s going to be fine,” Walker said. “Me and Evan, we are two very, very unselfish guys. We’re just going to get the ball moving and find the right shot, play some defense, try to get some stops. I think we’re going to jell super well. I’m super easy to get along with. So is Evan. So it’s going to be fine.”

Randle couldn’t be more pleased when he heard Walker talk about unselfishness. That trait has what pushed the less-heralded Knicks team to overachieve last season.

“Yeah, absolutely! I’m right there with him,” he told The Jump after listening to Walker’s interview. “I think that was the important thing about our team last year was everybody was unselfish. At the end of the day, all it matter was our team was winning. And just that mentality right there says it all. Those guys are, obviously, great players. They’re gonna bring a lot to the table for our team. But at the end of the day, everything is about winning. And I feel like that’s their mindset so it’s gonna be fun.”

Fournier has built a reputation as one of the most hardworking players in the league, so much so that his cerebral approach to the game has been underrated. The newly-minted Olympic silver medalist has a methodical approach to building chemistry with his new team.

“Well, first of all, I think we need to learn each other,” Fournier said. “What guys do best, what they enjoy, where they are efficient on the court, and then after that, it’s just playing free. Drive and kick, just making the right play, moving the ball, playing good basketball. It sounds simple, but at the end of the day you just have to be willing to do it.”

The willingness and togetherness of the Knicks team, last season under defensive guru Thibodeau, were the biggest draws for Fournier to choose New York. It was the cherry on top of his long desire to play at his favorite arena, the Madison Square Garden, in front of the loudest fans in the NBA for 41 games every year.

“I’m like that, too! I play for coach Steve Clifford for three years. In a lot of ways, [he and Thibodeau] are very similar. I know I will gonna enjoy working for him. And it’s New York, it’s the Madison [Suqare Garden]. The team is getting better and better. It was just a great opportunity. You probably don’t know that but the French press knows, I’ve been saying for years that I’ve always wanted to play for the Knicks. Now, it became a reality,” Fournier said.

The dream offseason, relative to what the dry free-agent market offered, is now officially over. The reality now sets in for the Knicks.

“We have a lot of work to do,” Randle said. “I don’t want to judge anything until we get on the court. But I have all the faith and confidence that Thibs — I know he’ll put us into the best position on the floor and bring out the best in us as a team. We’ll be fine.”

Fine will be an understatement if everything clicks for the Knicks.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

Walker, Fournier face Celtics in season opener; Knicks-Hawks rematch on Christmas

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New York Knicks, RJ Barrett

Newly acquired Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier will start their New York Knicks career facing their old team.

The Knicks will host the Boston Celtics at the Garden on October 20 as part of the NBA’s Opening Week. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN at 7:30 pm ET.

Walker played for two seasons with the Celtics before he was shipped to Oklahoma City Thunder for Al Horford. Walker completed a buyout with the Thunder and joined his hometown team, Knicks, on a $18 million, two-year deal.

Fournier, on the other hand, arrived in New York via a sign-and-trade agreement with the Celtics. He was Celtics’ trade-deadline acquisition who was eyed to be the team’s third scoring option behind Jayson Tatum and Jalen Brown when Walker was shipped out.

But Fournier and the Celtics couldn not agree to a new deal and the Knicks landed him on a $78 million, four-year deal with the last year as team option.

Walker and Fournier are expected to start for the Knicks replacing the ineffective Elfrid Payton, who signed with Phoenix, and 3-and-D forward Reggie Bullock, who went to Dallas.

The Knicks’ rise to relevance have earned them a Christmas playdate against emerging rival Atlanta Hawks.

The Knicks will host the Hawks at the Garden 12 noon to be aired over ESPN.

The Hawks, led by Trae Young, beat the Knicks, 4-1, in the first round of the playoffs last season.

With a retooled starting lineup, the Knicks are hoping to improve on their fourth seed finish and first round exit.

It will be the Knicks’ first Christmas game since 2018 when they lost to Milwaukee Bucks, 109-95. The Knicks are 22-31 on the holiday games.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

Perfect Timing: Kemba Walker eager to repay hometown Knicks for believing in him

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knicks, kemba walker

It may be two years late, but Kemba Walker is coming home to New York at a time when he needed someone to believe in him.

The four-time All-Star battled with a nagging arthritic left knee as he was reduced to 43 games and missed the final two games of the Boston Celtics’ playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets. Soon after, he was dumped to the rebuilding Oklahoma City Thunder along with this year’s 16h pick for Al Horford.

The Thunder flipped the Celtics’ 16th pick into two future first-round picks and tried to squeeze more out of Walker. But GM Sam Presti found no takers for Walker’s remaining $72 million owed to him over the next two years. So there was no other recourse but to buy out Walker’s contract.

“I think everything is perfect. Perfect timing. I’m really motivated,” Walker said during his introductory press conference Tuesday at the Madison Square Garden. “I’m super excited that these guys just believed in me. That’s all I need. I needed somebody to believe in me. These guys do and I appreciate that.”

Walker said there was no other option than the Knicks once he cleared the waivers.

In 2019, Walker thought he would come home. But the Knicks, who were still in disarray at that time, was shunned by Kevin Durant, who opted to join Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn. Without a marquee superstar to team up with at New York, Walker eventually went to the Celtics as Irving’s replacement via a sign-and-trade with the Charlotte Hornets.

”It was pretty close (signing with the Knicks). But it didn’t work out,” Walker said.

Two years later, the opportunity presented itself again to come home. And this time, he didn’t think twice.

“I was on vacation. I’m just waiting patiently. Just trusting my Lord and savior to get me where I need to be,” Walker said.

The 31-year old, four-time All-Star point guard agreed to sign an $18 million, two-year deal with the Knicks after giving up $20.5 million in the buyout with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

For Walker, playing for the Knicks had always been a dream since the Bronx native rose to become one of New York’s finest point guards.

“This feeling has been like no other,” Walker said. “I’m randomly getting goosebumps. It’s an unbelievable feeling to be able to come home.”

It was an emotional homecoming for Walker, who starred in Rice High School and New York’s famous AAU club New York Gauchos, and played magical basketball at the Garden while leading UConn to the Big East title and later on the NCAA crown in 2011.

“It was crazy, man,” Walker said, reminiscing his “Cardiac Kemba” moment in 2011. “That was just a special, special run. It was just a really dope time for me because I never beat Pittsburgh in my career. That was the first time, playing in the Garden in front of my family and friends, one of the biggest moments in the Big East Tournament. Then I hit that shot, and there was an explosion in here.”

“I love playing in this arena. It’s different because I’m from here, and I’ve played here so many different times growing up, and it’s definitely going to be different now wearing a Knicks jersey. It’s going to be better, 10 times better.”

It also hits differently than in 2019 when he was entering the peak of his career. Now two years removed from an All-NBA Team honor, Walker is coming off his worst season in the last seven years as his arthritic left knee kept on bothering him despite getting a stem cell injection. So, he is also coming home with a chip on his shoulder. 

“It means everything,’’ Walker said. “It’s driving everything. Because I know what kind of player I am. I know what level I want to be at. That’s definitely an added motivation.’’

Walker still averaged 19.3 points and 4.9 assists even in a down year. Even the worst version of Walker is still an upgrade for the Knicks, who endured starting Elfrid Payton at point guard last season.

Walker is hopeful he could recapture his All-NBA form with the long rest and Knicks’ point guard depth that features him, Derrick Rose, Immanuel Quickley, and rookie Miles McBride.

“I feel great,’’ Walker said. “My knee feels great. Honestly, I haven’t been playing as much since the regular season. I feel really good. I haven’t had this much time off in a little while, in a few years, to be honest.”

“It feels good to have this rest and time to get my knee right. I intend to come in feeling super good and continue to feel super good.”

Walker said he’s been working hard to rehabilitate his left knee. His strengthening program consists of lifting in the gym a lot, getting his lower body stronger, and reaching a level where his knee could endure an entire season.

While the $18 million, two-year deal with the Knicks is viewed around the league as a low-risk, high reward move, there’s still fear that Walker’s homecoming might not end up in a storybook ending.

Walker said he doesn’t feel any pressure, aware of the Knicks’ fans reputation for being vocal when players fail to live up to expectations.

“I’m from here. We got the best fans in the world. I know what’s up. I’m not really worried about that. Because I know what I gonna bring. And I saw what those guys brought out last year — the intensity, the passion for the game. It’s gonna be fun.”

For the second time in his career, Walker felt that people are counting him out. When Charlotte gave up on him, that fueled him to his All-NBA season in his first year in Boston.

While he tried to hide his feelings towards the Celtics for letting him go, he’s channeling that as motivation to come back stronger.

“I definitely believed Boston believed in me. But they traded me. So, you know,” Walker said. “My guys, my home team Knicks, they believed in me and I’m here now so whatever happened in the past is irrelevant at this point.”

A motivated Walker is hard to count out, especially now that he’s returning to New York, where it all began.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

Knicks’ Obi Toppin raves about Kemba Walker and the impact he will make

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new york knicks, immanuel quickley, obi toppin

One of the Knicks’ biggest acquisitions this summer has been point guard Kemba Walker. The 2020-21 season was littered with inadequate point guard play, but the Knicks added a few reliable options who can elevate the roster.

Pairing Kemba with Derrick Rose should offer the team a great combination. Neither are capable of being relied on for an entire season, but creating a balancing act that helps mitigate fatigue and injury is how management will likely strategize the position. In addition, they also have Immanuel Quickley, who has been playing PG during the Summer League, and rookie Miles McBride, who had a stellar performance against the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.

McBride finished with 22 points, shooting 78% from the field and hitting all sox 3-PT attempts. He also picked up five assists and seven rebounds, showcasing his athleticism and quality defense.

Another youngster who has performed well is Obi Toppin. The Dayton product is averaging 36.1 minutes per game in Las Vegas, posting 21 points per, shooting 41.4% from the field. Logging 9.3 rebounds per contest, Toppin has a +/- of 4.

Along with Quickley, Toppin is experiencing solid growth and progress, but he also indicated the impact Kemba will have on the team next season, hopefully elevating the team.

“Having Kemba come to the team is amazing,’’ Toppin said, per Marc Berman of the NY Post. “Great player. I’ve watched him as long as he’s been playing since he left UConn. Having an opportunity to play with him is going to be amazing.”

The Knicks now have a roster filled with talent and depth. Quickley, who is averaging 24 points per game during Summer League play, will optimally come off the bench. They also have Alec Burks, Nerlens Noel, and rookies Quentin Grimes, Jericho Sims, and Rokas Jokubaitis.

“We have so many different weapons,’’ Toppin said. “We have him who can score, Derrick [Rose] who can score, Jules [Julius Randle], RJ [Barrett], Quick [Immanuel Quickley]. So many different people who can put the ball in the hoop. At the same time, our main focus is defense. Whatever we do on the defensive side will determine our offense.’’

For a team that secured the 4th Seed in the Eastern Conference with weaknesses at multiple positions, a fantastic head coach like Tom Thibodeau and players to help mitigate fatigue during a long season will hopefully contribute toward an even more successful year. Adding Evan Fournier and Walker provides plenty of additional scoring prowess, and with RJ Barrett expected to take a step forward, the sky is the limit for this young Knicks team.

Knicks: What position maximizes Immanuel Quickley’s impact moving forward?

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immanuel quickley, knicks

Through two games in the NBA Summer League thus far, the New York Knicks have given Immanuel Quickley the ability to shine as a point guard. He may have not had the best outing in their first contest, but he turned it around with an impressive performance against the Pacers on Tuesday with 32 points and 8 assists. Just take a look at some of these highlights:

What he’s proven in these two games is that he thrives as the primary ballhandler on the court, and most certainly equips the playmaking skills necessary to play the 1 in the NBA.  However, it’s simply not the capacity in which the Knicks will need him the most this upcoming season.

Looking at the Knicks Roster

If Immanuel Quickley was to be listed as a point guard for 2021-2022, he’d be the 3rd option, behind Kemba Walker and Derrick Rose. The Knicks would also need to move on from Luca Vildoza, who has a non-guaranteed contract.

As of right now, the most likely role for the 22-year-old from Kentucky would be the backup SG with Evan Fournier starting. This would ensure him the most playing time, and the opportunity to fill in for either Rose or Walker if they were to get injured.

This is probably the most ideal situation for Quickley going forward. No matter how good he is at facilitating and handling the ball, he most naturally fits into the role of shooting guard. Keeping him at his regular position while occasionally giving him reps at PG will allow him to continue to grow as a valuable combo guard.

What Quickley’s Summer League Performance Means

As we saw all last season, Quickley is most effective when he’s shooting the ball well. This allows him to penetrate more efficiently and thus collapse the defense and find the open man or rise up for his patented floater. All this was evident in the first two summer league games for the Knicks.

Against the Pacers Tuesday, Quickley played with fearlessness and aggressiveness that came from increased confidence in his shot. Once he saw the ball go in a few times, he began attacking the rim, which forced defenders to commit. This not only gave players on the Knicks wide-open looks, but it also got him to the free-throw line, where he went 6-6. After the game, he displayed a heightened sense of maturity when discussing his role at the Summer League.

“I’ve been around a year… I’ve been in playoff games. Just continuing to spread my knowledge to the new guys, the young guys. Obi and I are doing a great job understanding we have to help these guys and communicate.” – Immanuel Quickley via NYPost

Quickley seems to be a player who understands what he needs to do to help the team win. No matter what it is you ask of him, he performs to the best of his abilities. As for this upcoming season, he will understand that the best way to help the Knicks will be at the shooting guard position. From a long-term perspective, Quickley could be the team’s solution at PG after Rose and Walkers’ contracts expire in two years. Rose is on a three-year deal, but the final season is not guaranteed.

Knicks make Kemba Walker signing official, Leon Rose raves about addition

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knicks, kemba walker

The New York Knicks made the signing of point guard Kemba Walker official on Wednesday morning after a buy-out with the Oklahoma City Thunder finalized. After spending the 2020-21 season with the Boston Celtics, Walker is looking for a new challenge in New York.

As a Bronx native, Walker is coming home, playing at the biggest stage in basketball while trying to regain his form after a season where he played 43 games and struggled with a knee injury.

At this point in his career, Kemba has a degenerative left knee, but at 30-years-old, he still has gas left in the tank and value he can offer the Knicks. Averaging 19.3 points, 4.9 assists, and shooting 42% from the field last season, Walker also offers adequacy as a three-point shooter, connecting on 36% of his shots over 8.2 attempts last season.

The front office is ecstatic about acquiring Walker, especially on such an affordable contract. He’s expected to earn $9 million per season over two years, which is incredibly cost-efficient based on his $36 million AAV before the buyout. The official deal is two years, $18 million.

President Leon Rose stated on Wednesday:

”We are beyond thrilled to bring native New Yorker Kemba Walker to the city he’s proud to call home. He’s a tremendous talent whose skill and leadership will be a huge addition to our organization. We’ve already seen how well he performs on The Garden stage and can’t wait to witness it on a nightly basis in front of his family, friends and the best fans in the league.”

Pairing Walker with veteran PG Derrick Rose and draft pick Miles McBride should give the Knicks plenty of depth at the position. Previously featuring Elfrid Payton in a starting role, they upgraded significantly, which should contribute toward better play from some of their complementary pieces. All-Star Julius Randle will also be a benefactor of this move, opening up the floor for more shooting opportunities and taking pressure off him in high-intensity moments.

The team got better this off-season while managing to stay under the salary cap. On paper, the front office to the brilliant job.

Can the Knicks depend on Kemba Walker’s knee to hold up for an entire season?

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New York Knicks, Julius Randle

The Knicks are expected to officially announce the signing of All-Star point guard Kemba Walker on Sunday when the buyout with the Oklahoma City Thunder finalizes. Walker brings experience, play-making ability, and elite potential at a minuscule price point for Tom Thibodeau this upcoming season.

After starting free agency with a focus on loyalty and retaining players like Nerlens Noel, Alec Burks, and Derrick Rose, the front office turned their attention toward upgrades. Depending on Rose to last the entire season without picking up minor injuries is optimistic, so landing Walker provides a nice cushion at point guard to mitigate fatigue and hopefully maintain health.

However, Walker has dealt with left knee injuries in the past, and at this point in his career, they’re considered degenerative.

Marc Berman of the NY Post spoke to Dr. Wellington Hsu, professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Northwestern University, regarding Kemba’s knee and the likelihood of it holding up next season:

“He’ll always have the issue the rest of his career,’’ Hsu told The Post. “He’s not a spring chicken. He’ll have some type of lingering issue.”

Having played in 43 games last season, averaging 31.8 minutes per game, the Knicks are hoping he can split time with Rose and remain in peak form as a result. Ideally, the Knicks would have both during the postseason, which would take a tremendous amount of pressure off Julius Randle and the PG position.

The expectation is that Kemba will likely be on a minute count, but if they can get his All-Star version during that time, the team will improve their scoring production 10-fold.

“Any GM would look at history of arthritis knee injuries in guards and would know that he’s on a game count or minutes count,’’ Hsu said. “He’s not going to be available all the time. I don’t know if you want a max salary on a guy like that, especially if you’re in your 30’s. If he was in his 20’s, there’s chance he can regenerate some of that tissue over time. It’s going to be dicey on how much he plays.’’

Kemba is only one year removed from a season where he averaged 20.4 points, 4.8 assists, and shot 38% from range over 8.4 attempts. His high-clip from 3-Pt is a big addition to a Knicks team that featured Elfrid Payton and his 28.6% shooting from range last season.

Overall, depending on Kemba to be available the entire season is a bit lofty of an expectation, but if they monitor his minuted apporiorately and balance him with Rose, Luca Vildoza, and Miles, McBride, there’s no question they can get the most out of the Bronx-native.

How Knicks’ free agent signings will help RJ Barrett reach a new level

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new york knicks, rj barrett

The New York Knicks did exactly what they needed to do this offseason acquiring two players that can create their own offense: Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker. With the former Boston duo now sharing the backcourt in New York, one can only think that this will greatly benefit 3rd year forward RJ Barrett.

This past season, we saw much-improved play from the 21-year-old from Duke. Barrett increased his scoring, his efficiency, and his FG and 3pt FG %, all while being the second scoring option on a playoff team. He also improved his defense, becoming a reliable option for Coach Tom Thibodeau.

Where RJ Barrett Needs to Improve

If there’s one part of his game that needs the most work, it’s his shot creation. In 2020-2021, Barrett relied mainly on his perimeter game and finishing skills at the basket to generate offense. He only shot a combined 36% on field goal attempts from 10 feet to the 3 point line. Additionally, these only accounted for .156 of all RJ’s attempts. If he expects to take the next big leap as a scorer in 2021-22, he’s going to need to learn how to become more efficient at creating more midrange opportunities for the Knicks.

Barrett has been working this off-season diligently to improve his shot-creating and hesitation moves. Elevating that category will take pressure off Julius Randle to be the primary scorer, and with RJ’s ability to drive the rim, kicking it out to his sharpshooters will become even more lethal.

Fortunately, the presence of Walker and Fournier, two players that demand attention on offense, will give Barrett extra room to create and learn. He could also take after the two guards, who thrive from inside the 3 point line. Last season, Walker (in his worst shooting season since he was a rookie) still shot 41% from midrange, which was down from 47% the season before. Fournier, on the other hand, shot 44% from the same area while also seeing a big dip from previous seasons.

While Barrett’s scoring average may go down due to less usage, the play of the Knicks’ two newest additions will allow him to work on finding other ways to score and help him improve his ability to move without the ball.

There’s certainly a lot to look forward to this season, but how RJ continues to develop as a player will be one of the most intriguing.

Does Evan Fournier, Kemba Walker make the Knicks top seed contenders?

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evan fournier, knicks

The New York Knicks utilized their remaining cap space to sign point guard Kemba Walker after he finalized a buy-out with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Knicks started off free agency, retaining some of their own, spending the majority of their available funds on three-year contracts with Nerlens Noel, Alec Burks, and Derrick Rose.

The front office had a straightforward approach, show loyalty to the players who impacted them the most during a play-off worthy 2020-21 season, and fill weaknesses with strengths. Having secured the 4th overall seed in the Eastern Conference last season, the Knicks are looking to take the next step forward, and their newest additions should contribute toward that goal.

Evan Fournier’s impact:

When the Knicks signed Fournier, they saw an upgrade over Reggie Bullock, who signed a three-year contract with the Dallas Mavericks. Fournier, who is capable of playing shooting guard and small forward, has the ability to create shots and drive to the basket, whereas Bullock was more of a catch and shoot specialist.

Fournier averaged 17.1 points last season, including 3.4 assists, and shot 45.7% from the field. However, his most important statistic is his three-point percentage, which lands at 41.3%.

With similar shooting percentage is compared to Bullock, Fournier was offered a four-year, $78 million deal because of his ability to open up the floor and take pressure off of Julius Randle. He’s head and shoulders above Bullock as an offensive weapon, which should elevate the Knicks’ offensive production, therefore giving them a better opportunity to move up in the standings.

Kemba Walker’s impact:

Relying on Elfrid Payton to get the job done last season was a tough reality for head coach Tom Thibodeau, who quickly replaced him with Derrick Rose upon his acquisition. Payton averaged 23.6 minutes per game, and Walker will undoubtedly steal those minutes and provide more efficiency as a shooter and floor general.

However, Kemba has dealt with injury in the past, specifically with his left knee. He missed 45 games over the past two seasons, including 29 last season and two in the playoffs. However, he was fantastic after returning during the second half of the year, so it is clear he can still play at a high level when healthy.

Paying him an average of $8 million per season, they are getting him on a steep discount, similar to the contract Payton signed last year to stay with the Knicks for one season.

Splitting minutes between Rose and Walker will help mitigate fatigue and injury, providing the Knicks with two more than capable point guards who can lead the offense and take even more responsibility away from Randle.

Last season, Randle was double-teamed frequently, especially during the postseason. Pulling assignments away from him and toward other playmakers should increase their efficiency, hopefully allowing them to secure an even higher seeding and home-field advantage for the postseason.

So can the Knicks compete as a top seed in the Eastern Conference? Absolutely, but it all boils down to health at the end of the day.

What should the Knicks expect from Kemba Walker next season?

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knicks, kemba walker

To everybody’s surprise, the New York Knicks finalized the acquisition of Kemba Walker after a buyout with the Oklahoma City Thunder earlier this week. Kemba was traded from the Boston Celtics to Oklahoma City this off-season, but never played a game for his new team. At 31-years-old, Walker was looking for a new challenge, immediately signing with his hometown Knicks upon being released into the free-agent market.

After what seemed to be a soft entrance to free agency for the Knicks’ front office, retaining some of their own players, they made a big splash with the acquisition of Walker and French sharpshooter Evan Fournier.

As an added bonus, the Knicks also extended star power forward Julius Randle on a four-year, $117 million deal. Surprisingly, they managed to keep their best player at under $30 million per season, opening up a ton of financial flexibility for the future.

The idea of adding a super-star player to pair with Randle in the future is very much a possibility, as Julius was keen on solidifying a deal before the season began. In fact, he might’ve learned a thing or two from watching Dennis Schroder implode and miss out on an $84 million extension.

What will Kemba Walker bring to the Knicks?

Walker will add a dynamic threat at point guard to help take the pressure off Randle, especially in the postseason. Last season, Walker played in 43 games, averaging 19.3 points, 4.9 assists, and shot 42% from the field. He’s only two years removed from playing in 82 games and averaging 25.6 points. Over the last five seasons, he’s earned four All-Star appearances.

The primary issue with the former Celtic is injury. His knees simply aren’t what they used to be, and while he showed burst after making a return after the All-Star break, it is evident he’s slowed down quite a bit. The Knicks are hoping Walker can remain healthy. He is still a productive point guard who can lead an offense as a shot creator and facilitator.

On paper, the Knicks replaced Elfrid Payton with Walker and Reggie Bullock with Fournier, giving them a solid injection of offensive prowess. Considering Kemba signed a contract paying him just $8 million per season over two years, if they get the most out of him, the Knicks will walk away big winners in free agency. Walker stated after choosing the Knicks that he’ll be working hard this off-season to prepare his body for the year ahead, especially under a tough head coach in Tom Thibodeau.

Thibodeau understands that he has two injury-prone point guards, but balancing Derrick Rose and Walker should mitigate fatigue to a degree. Payton averaged 23.6 minutes per game last season, so splitting up the time should lower the probability of injury.

To give you some perspective on the scoring difference, Payton averaged 15.5 points per 36 minutes last season. Even during Walker’s injury-affected season, he averaged 21.8 points per 36 minutes. The Knicks lost several contests by a small margin, and that point differential could be the difference between winning and losing.

To inject a bit more confidence in Walker, after the All-Star break last year, he averaged 20 points per game with a .584 true shooting percentage, which would’ve been the highest of his entire career over a full season. It all boils down to health, and if the Knicks maintain their bodies, in turn keeping the point guard rotation fresh, they will be in great shape moving forward.