Things are truly at rock bottom levels between former Boston Celtics point guard Kemba Walker and his new team, the New York Knicks.
The local NY media, ever the harsh critics, took aim at Walker’s time in the ‘Mecca’ and went as far as to call the union between him and his hometown Knicks a ‘catastrophe’.
Specifically, that was Marc Berman of the New York Post, traditionally the headline grabber of the Big Apple’s talking heads. The phrase was used in the title of his piece called “Knicks’ Kemba Walker ‘catastrophe’ is only getting worse.”
I suppose him being below two-way G-Leaguers on the depth chart is pretty damning:
"Under no circumstances is Thibodeau willing to test the minus-122 Walker posted at the 20-game mark.Croatian prospect Luka Samanic looks higher on the depth chart than Walker — and he’s a two-way player stationed this season in the G-League. Maybe it’s time to send Walker to the Westchester Knicks to stay in shape."
Remember, this is nothing to celebrate. Kemba Walker was part of a great season in 2019-20, going through the most unthinkable and unforgettable lockouts–though this time not forced by CBA negotiations–in league history. He was an All-Star starter and averaged over 19 points per game both years he was in Boston.
Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens did well in trading Kemba Walker in the offseason.
With all of that said, it’s fair to acknowledge an offseason victory from the newest head of player movement for the Cs. Stevens also did well to return Enes Kanter Freedom to the lineup to go along with Al Horford, who is comparatively playing well relative to Walker’s downfall in New York.
We hope Walker can find a home elsewhere where he’d be appreciated more than Tom Thibodeau does. The Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, and even Milwaukee Bucks could use him as a sixth man floor general. Perhaps the cross-town Brooklyn Nets could find a better role for him than in his current midtown Manhattan nightmare.