Wed, Jul 6, 2022 at 9:55pm

KNICKS UNLOAD KEMBA WALKER

In a three-team trade, the Detroit Pistons acquired a first-round draft pick in 2022 (Jalen Duren) from the Charlotte Hornets, and guard Kemba Walker from the New York Knicks; New York acquired a protected first-round draft pick in 2025 from the Pistons; and Charlotte acquired a protected first-round draft pick in 2023, two second-round draft picks in 2023, a conditional second-round draft pick in 2023 and a second-round draft pick in 2024 from the Knicks.

What does it give the Detroit Pistons
For Detroit, this deal should help round out their present (and future) lineup. With the 13th overall pick, the Pistons landed center Jalen Duren, who will likely become an immediate starter in Motown (barring more moves by the Pistons, who are rumored to be interested in Phoenix center DeAndre Ayton). Walker is expected to be bought out this summer.

What does it give the New York Knicks
The Knicks goal here is clear and obvious: they are trying to free up as much cap space as possible to go after Dallas Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson. The first-round pick in '25 that New York acquired in this deal is top-four protected. It had been dealt to Detroit in the Jerami Grant trade. The Knicks will now attempt to move the likes of Nerlens Noel and Alec Burks.

What does it give the Charlotte Hornets
While Charlotte decided to move on from the No. 13 overall pick in this year's draft (which was Duren), they did eventually land the center they needed in Mark Williams a couple of picks later. The first-round pick acquired from New York in this deal is top-14 protected in 2023. The Hornets are also getting four second-round picks from the Knicks in this deal.

Fantasy impact
Walker is expected to be on a different team once his buyout from Detroit is completed, so there remains a lot of uncertainty with him. He has obvious fantasy value but it is better to take a wait-and-see approach here. Duren could become one of the best rookies of the 2022-23 NBA class. However, beware the Ayton acquisition rumors.