Three Teams Have Contacted Knicks About Kemba Walker

Knicks point guard Kemba Walker has been benched and opponents are already seeing if he is available for a trade, according to Jordan Schultz of ESPN.

Coach Tom Thibodeau announced Walker’s demotion earlier this week and per Shultz, three teams have reached out to the Knicks to inquire about a potential trade for Walker.

While it’s unclear if the Knicks are looking to move Walker at the moment, sources told Bleacher Report’s A. Sherrod Blakely they may eventually be open to such a deal. Walker cannot be traded until Dec. 15 after signing a free agent contract this offseason, per NBA rules.

Knee issues limited Walker to 43 games with the Celtics last season. They then traded him to the Thunder, who bought out his deal a few weeks later. He then signed a two-year deal reportedly worth $18 million with the Knicks in August.

But things have not been the same for Walker, who is averaging career-lows of 11.7 points, 3.1 assists and 2.6 rebounds. Hence, the move to the bench in favor of Alec Burks by Thibodeau.

“It’s a tough decision to make. But you always have to do what you think is best for the team,” Thibodeau said. “I’ve got great respect for who Kemba is as a person, number one, and all that he’s accomplished in this league … But I do what I think is best for the team.”

One source told Blakely that the Knicks could potentially explore a Walker trade with the Rockets, who are looking to move point guard John Wall, as we relayed earlier.

Schultz didn’t identify the teams that contacted the Knicks, so it’s too early to know if the Rockets have an interest. But clearly, there is some interest from somebody.

“League sources believe Walker’s value has the potential to change as the Knicks get closer to the Feb. 10 trade deadline and teams get more desperate to add a veteran who, despite his defensive shortcomings, has shown he can still make shots, albeit in a more limited capacity,” Blakely wrote.