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New York Knicks: Kemba Walker chose the less complicated situation

By Rob Wolkenbrod

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 26: Kemba Walker #8 of the Boston Celtics reacts during the second half of their game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on October 26, 2019 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 26: Kemba Walker #8 of the Boston Celtics reacts during the second half of their game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on October 26, 2019 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /
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Kemba Walker, who signed a multi-year contract with the Boston Celtics in free agency, said he gave the New York Knicks consideration beforehand.

2019 NBA free agency was expected to be lucrative for the New York Knicks, but they lost out on all the superstars. While Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant consumed the headlines, they were hardly the only big names to skip out on Manhattan.

Kemba Walker, a Bronx native, left the Charlotte Hornets to sign with the Boston Celtics on a four-year, $140 million contract, with a player option for the 2022-23 season. He replaced the outgoing Irving at point guard.

Did Walker actually consider the Knicks beforehand, though? Per SNY’s Ian Begley, the All-Star point guard pondered a return home, but ultimately felt there was a better fit for himself elsewhere:

"“It was (a consideration). It was. They were definitely one of the teams I was looking at in free agency. But I picked Boston. I just felt it was a better fit for me,” Walker said before the Knicks home opener against Boston on Saturday."

Walker joined a young Celtics team with foundational pieces in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, along with a proven coach of multiple playoff teams in Brad Stevens. The recent history has been there for Boston, too, rather than entering a similar, non-playoff situation to Charlotte, who struggled to build a competitive roster around their drafted star.

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Walker represented a chance for the Knicks to upgrade point guard. Instead, they have more problems at the position, as Dennis Smith Jr. struggles mightily; Frank Ntilikina is not playing; and Elfrid Payton is productive defending and passing but limited otherwise.

So, yet again, there are point guard woes at Madison Square Garden.

The Knicks have missed someone to properly handle the basketball for them since the Jeremy “Linsanity” Lin era and Jason Kidd‘s brief spell. Since then, they have rotated through veterans like Jose Calderon, Jarrett Jack and Pablo Prigioni. None of them were long-term options.

It is unknown if New York has their future point guard rostered right now, either. Ntilikina and Smith are both 21 years old, but have hardly made an impact. Payton’s contract can end after this season or by 2020-21 at the latest. Another high draft pick could bring in another guard, but the Knicks will have to restart the clock on developing a young distributor.

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Walker opting to sign elsewhere is only evidence of where the New York Knicks are at this important position. He dropped 32 points on them on Saturday night, while one player was jeered and another was chanted for. This could have solved a problem for coach David Fizdale’s team, but they, instead, have even more questions than answers just three games in.

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