Knicks to shut down Kemba Walker for rest of season

The New York Knicks and Kemba Walker have agreed that the guard will sit the remainder of the season and work out in preparation for an offseason trade, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Wednesday.

Walker, 31, has had a tumultuous relationship with the Knicks since signing with the team in August. The four-time All-Star was a healthy scratch for New York during a nine-game stretch in November and December, but returned when COVID-19 made several players on the team unavailable. While Walker scored 94 points over a three-game stretch immediately after his return and recorded a triple-double on Christmas, his play fell off when he dealt with knee injuries.

Now Derrick Rose is expected to return to the Knicks soon, making Walker more expendable than ever.

Walker signed a two-year deal with the Knicks after negotiating a buyout with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the offseason following a trade from the Boston Celtics. Walker earned four consecutive trips to the NBA All-Star Game between 2017 and 2020 during his time with the Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets and the Celtics.

The point guard is averaging career lows in minutes (25.6), points (11.6), and assists (3.5) during his time with the Knicks.