Kemba Walker is reportedly headed to Detroit, but may not be around for long.
New York is sending Kemba Walker to Detroit as part of a three-team trade that will also reportedly see the Pistons acquire No. 13 overall pick Jalen Duren from Charlotte, per multiple reports.
In exchange for Duren, the Hornets will reportedly acquire a future first-round pick and multiple future second-round picks.
Charlotte receives:
• 2023 first-round pick (from Denver via Oklahoma City and New York)
• 2023 second-round pick (via New York)
• 2023 second-round pick (via Utah)
• 2023 second-round pick (most favorable of Dallas/Miami)
• 2024 second-round pick (via New York)
Detroit receives:
• 2022 draft rights to Jalen Duren (via Charlotte)
• Kemba Walker (via New York)
Knicks acquired Jalen Duren — and moved him with Kemba Walker to the Pistons, sources said. https://t.co/kzyljkrFnI
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 24, 2022
Sources: #Hornets compensation for Jalen Duren:
2023 Denver 1st round pick
2023 Knicks 2nd round pick
2023 Utah 2nd round pick
2023 Dallas/Miami 2nd round pick (most favorable)
2024 Knicks 2nd round pick— Rod Boone (@rodboone) June 24, 2022
Walker, whose role fluctuated wildly in his first and possibly only season in New York, will be bought out by the Pistons, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Duren, a 6-foot-11 big man, figures to factor more heavily into Detroit’s future plans.
ESPN story on Kemba Walker and the Detroit Pistons finalizing a contract buyout: https://t.co/PhsH0pgLbi
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2022
New York, meanwhile, appears set on carving out cap space for when free agency officially opens next month. The Knicks had agreed on a trade that sent their No. 11 overall pick to Oklahoma City in exchange for three future first-round picks. This latest deal would also send out Walker’s $9 million remaining salary, while returning another future first, a protected pick originally belonging to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Clarifying: The Knicks will also be acquiring the Bucks 2025 first-round pick in the Pistons-Knicks-Hornets trade, per league sources. The Pistons got that MIL pick from Portland in the Jerami Grant deal yesterday.
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) June 24, 2022
