Kemba Walker’s tenure with the New York Knicks is finished now, as the point guard couldn’t convince head coach Tom Thibodeau about his fit with the team. Now, the UConn legend is ready to leave the Big Apple, and he could return to one of his former teams.
The All-Star playmaker didn’t have the best time in Boston, which led to a trade to Oklahoma City and then a buyout that opened the door to sign with the Knicks. Things haven’t gone in Walker’s favor in New York, and now he could return to his first team in the league.
According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, the Charlotte Hornets could reunite with Walker this summer. He played eight years there, becoming an All-Star in the process and the only good thing Charlotte had before they entered another rebuilding process.
According to an NBA source, Walker has been training in Charlotte, N.C., his former home, and New York, shuttling back and forth. Walker’s mother still lives in the “Queen City,’’ and the Hornets could be a future destination as he played there eight seasons. The Knicks visit Charlotte on Wednesday.
The likeliest scenario is the Knicks trading Walker’s expiring contract in a deal on draft night in late June. No buyout talks have taken place.
Kemba was expected to become the cornerstone of an ambitious project in Charlotte, but other than him, the front office never drafted a good talent that made them a competitive team. Right now, they have something good going at Spectrum Center, with LaMelo Ball showing the way. Miles Bridges, Terry Rozier, PJ Washington, and more have a big shot to create something special in Charlotte.
It’s unclear if the Hornets are interested in this reunion, but Kemba’s presence could be good for that team.
