Detroit Pistons, former All-Star Kemba Walker agree to contract buyout
The Detroit Pistons and Kemba Walker have agreed to a buyout, a league source confirmed Thursday to the Free Press.
The Pistons acquired Walker, 32, in a trade with the New York Knicks during the 2022 NBA draft that also brought Jalen Duren, taken as the No. 13 pick, to Detroit.
Walker's expiring contract counts $9.2 million against the Pistons' cap, but the two sides are working on lowering the number in the buyout, with Walker giving back some money to enter unrestricted free agency before the mortarium begins at 6 p.m. Thursday.
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The Knicks unloaded Walker's contract as a salary dump as they prepare to make a run at Dallas Mavericks unrestricted free agent Jalen Brunson.
In a separate deal Tuesday with the Knicks, the Pistons acquired Alec Burks, Nerlens Noel, Detroit's 2023 second-round pick a heavily-protected 2024 second-rounder from the Miami Heat and $6 million.
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Walker struggled last season, his first in New York after two years in Boston, falling out of the Knicks' rotation at times and averaging career lows in points (11.6), assists (3.5) and minutes (25.6) per game. He has been an All-Star four times, including the final three seasons of his eight-year tenure with Charlotte.
Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @omarisankofa. Read more on the Detroit Pistons and sign up for our Pistons newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons, Kemba Walker agree to contract buyout
