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The New York Knicks signed Kemba Walker on a two-year $17 million steal of a contract. This is just two years after the Boston Celtics signed Walker to a four-year $140 million contract. Injuries have played a significant factor in Walker being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder this offseason, then being cut by the Thunder, allowing him to sign with the Knicks.
Much was expected from Walker while he was playing in Boston. He came in to replace Kyrie Irving and has been an All-Star for three straight seasons. Walker did not play badly for the Celtics, averaging 19.9 points per game. However, in the past two seasons, he has only played 99 games and shot 42% from the field.
The Celtics were paying Walker to have a massive role in the team, and it just never worked out. Now that he is with the Knicks, these are three ways his new team can maximize his output for the team's betterment.
#1 Don’t overwork Kemba Walker
Last season, the Knicks offense ranked on the lower side of the NBA, averaging only 107 points per game, to make them the fourth lowest-scoring team. The Knicks tried to address the issue this offseason with the signings of both Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier. Both players have been the number one scoring option for teams in the past, which should improve the Knicks' offense this season.
However, this does not mean that the Knicks should run Walker into the ground by making him the number one option on offense. Walker might no longer be capable of returning to his dominant one-man show that he was for the Hornets. Using Walker as a decoy and someone who can create for others on offense could help him play in more games.
The Knicks also have quality backups who could give Walker more rest throughout the season. Derrick Rose and Immanuel Quickley played crucial roles for the Knicks last season and should continue to do so. Even though head coach Tom Thibodeau is known for running players into the ground, let’s hope that he makes an exception for Walker. The team has the backups to do so and could help the team in the long run.
Walker can also take a back seat on some offensive possessions. Julius Randle came into his own last season with RJ Barrett, who carried the Knicks' offense through the season. Randle can be a primary playmaker and scorer, but the issue is that he couldn’t do that every night. The Atlanta Hawks defense stifled Randle in the playoffs, leading to a Knicks playoff series loss. Walker would open the floor up to Randle without the ball in his hands.
#2 Help Kemba Walker on defense
The Knicks were one of the best defenses in the league last year, holding teams to just 104.7 points per game, for the lowest in the NBA. Kemba Walker has never really been seen as a key defensive player, so the Knicks should not expect that. Walker’s job is not to improve the defense, so allow him to have most of his impact on offense.
This might mean that Walker should spend more time with Rose or Quickley as the guard alongside him rather than Fournier. Even though the offense might take a dip in production, it shouldn't be all that much. On the other hand, playing two weak defensive guards could be a gamble, and the defensive production could drop.
The only way to make a Walker and Fournier backcourt work is by playing them with either Mitchell Robinson or Nerlens Noel. Robinson and Noel are elite shot blockers, so if Walker cannot stay in front of someone on defense, he will still have a backup behind him. Furthermore, the offense could still be better than last year because of Walker’s ability to throw ally-oops to both Robinson and Noel.
#3 Don’t expect too much from Kemba Walker
The Knicks should not make the same mistake as the Celtics did. The Celtics wanted him to be the number two option on offense, and Walker did not live up to that. The Knicks should just look at Walker to help improve the offense and not set a goal to hit. Don’t use his previous statistics and think you will get out of him because he is not that player anymore.
Walker is on such a cheap deal, and he can still play way above what he will make. Last season, Walker’s 19.3 points would have been second on the Knicks, so it will be good if he gets anywhere close to that. The issue is that his efficiency had dropped since becoming an All-Star.
On top of that, this Knicks roster is ideally built to help him. The team is young and defensively sound. Randle, Barrett, and Fournier will all share the load of being the stars of the offense. The Knicks also have two good backup guards who can start if Walker sits out a night or doesn't play more than 30 minutes a game.
Walker played on a team that did not help him during the first eight years of his career. Night in and night out, he had to be the primary option. Then Walker went to a team that wanted him to have the same production as one of the best point guards in the league. Now that Walker is on a team with talent that fits around him, he should have less of a role and still be productive.
