The Detroit Pistons made a decision to enter the 2022-23 NBA season without veteran point guard Kemba Walker on their roster. According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Pistons will waive Walker by the end of the week.
Reportedly, the Pistons made a decision with the upcoming deadline for setting the regular season roster. Without Walker, Detroit will come down to 15 guaranteed roster spots.
Kemba Walker will leave Detroit without actually suiting up for the Pistons. The 32-year-old joined the franchise in an NBA Draft trade from the New York Knicks in what was essentially turning out to be a salary dump deal. The Pistons took on the $9 million owed to Walker in 2022-23 and draft rights to Tigers’ Jalen Duren while sending a heavily-protected first-rounder to New York.
New York City native Kemba Walker signed with the Knicks ahead of the 2021-22 season following a contract buyout from the Oklahoma City Thunder. Walker was expected to aid the Knicks’ chances of returning to playoffs, but the move turned out to be a disaster. He only played 37 games, averaging a career-low 11.6 points, before he was removed from the rotation.
Walker is best known for his time with the Charlotte Hornets, where he spent the first eight seasons of his NBA career. He was a three-time All-Star with the Hornets and received one All-NBA Third-Team honor.
