Knicks Trade Rumors: Pros and cons of trading for Kemba Walker

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CHARLOTTE, NC – JANUARY 17: Kemba Walker #15 of the Charlotte Hornets handles the ball against the Washington Wizards on January 17, 2018 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Charlotte Hornets are reportedly open to trading All-Star point guard Kemba Walker. Should the New York Knicks make a move for the Bronx native?

The working theory around the NBA is that the New York Knicks will be one of the most active teams in the Association at the 2018 trade deadline. No one quite knows what New York will be looking for, but the expectation is that it will be in selling mode on or before Feb. 8.

If the Knicks ultimately decide to find Kristaps Porzingis help in the short-term, then a new option may emerge as the most compelling of the 2017-18 season thus far.

New York is in the midst of a rebuild, which makes the idea of acquiring a star in their prime one with polarizing possibilities. The latest report from the trade front, however, is one that has direct ties to New York basketball.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Charlotte Hornets are encouraging teams to make offers for Kemba Walker and one of their bad contracts.

"Overloaded with bad contracts and untradable assets, the Charlotte Hornets have made All-Star point guard Kemba Walker available in trade discussions, league sources told ESPN."

Per Ian Begley of ESPN New York, the Hornets would like to negotiate a trade with the Knicks, but Scott Perry hasn’t yet been eager to engage.

"The Charlotte Hornets would like engage the Knicks on trade discussions involving All-Star point guard Kemba Walker but New York and Charlotte haven’t yet had substantive discussions about a trade involving Walker, per league sources."

Acquiring Walker would be a polarizing move, but it would be difficult to overlook the Bronx native as an option.

Walker is currently averaging 21.7 points, 5.8 assists, 3.4 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 2.5 three-point field goals made in 34.5 minutes per game. He was an All-Star in 2016-17, has two postseason appearances on his resume, and is regarded as one of the top 10 point guards in the NBA.

The question is: What would the pros and cons be of the New York Knicks potentially executing a trade for Charlotte Hornets star Kemba Walker?

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