Kemba Walker‘s stint with the New York Knicks is expected to soon come to an end. After playing his 18th game in the 2021-22 NBA season, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau has decided to remove Walker from their official rotation. As of now, there are growing speculations that the Knicks would try to move Walker before the 2022 NBA trade deadline.
However, instead of simply unloading him and his contract, the Knicks could use him as a trade chip to improve their current roster.
Kemba Walker To Indiana Pacers
One of the potential trade targets for the Knicks in the deal involving Walker is veteran center Myles Turner of the Indiana Pacers. In a recent article, Brad Dressler of Fansided’s Daily Knicks created a list of Walker-centered trades that the Knicks should consider before the 2022 NBA trade deadline. These include a hypothetical deal that would enable them to swap Walker for Turner.
In the proposed trade scenario, the Knicks would be sending a package that includes Walker, Kevin Knox II, and Mitchell Robinson to the Pacers in exchange for Turner and a 2025 first-round pick.
Proposed Trade Deal A No-Brainer For Knicks
The Knicks should no longer think twice before pulling the trigger on the proposed trade deal. The hypothetical blockbuster with the Pacers would allow them to turn an aging point guard, a draft bust candidate, and an injury-riddled big man into a durable and starting-caliber center in Turner.
Adding Turner to the Knicks’ core would strengthen their chances of fully dominating the Eastern Conference and winning the NBA championship title in the 2021-22 NBA season. Aside from Turner, the Knicks would also be receiving a future first-round pick that they could use to add a young and promising talent to their roster.
Myles Turner's On-Court Impact On Knicks
Turner may not be on the same level as Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, and Anthony Davis, but he would still be a solid addition to the Knicks. Replacing Robinson with Turner would give the Knicks a massive upgrade at the starting center position. Aside from his durability, Turner is also a very reliable scorer under the basket, a great rebounder, a quality rim protector, and a decent floor-spacer.
This season, Turner is averaging 12.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks while shooting 53.1 percent from the field and 39.7 percent from beyond the arc, per ESPN. Those numbers are expected to further improve once he plays for a team that could give him more playing time and a significant role on the offensive end of the floor.
Why The Pacers Would Make The Trade
The suggested trade would also make sense for the Pacers, especially after Turner publicly expressed his unhappiness with the team and his desire to leave Indiana. Before he becomes a major distraction to their team, sending him to the Knicks would enable them to acquire a younger frontcourt replacement for him in Robinson and another talented prospect that they could develop in Knox II.
With the team expected to undergo another rebuild, the Pacers are highly unlikely to keep Walker. They could ask him to mentor their young players until they find a team that needs his service.
]]>The Inquisitr
