NBA Free Agency 2019: 5 potential destinations for Kemba Walker

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CHARLOTTE, NC – DECEMBER 14: Kemba Walker #15 of the Charlotte Hornets handles the ball against the New York Knicks on December 14, 2018 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brock Williams-Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) /

2. New York Knicks

The New York Knicks have long hoped to sign a pair of star free agents to max contracts this summer, but those plans took a turn for the worse in recent weeks.

Kevin Durant, who has been widely linked to the Knicks for months, tore his right Achilles tendon in Game 5 of the NBA Finals and is expected to miss the entire 2019-20 season. Meanwhile, Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald reported Kyrie Irving is “prepared to sign with the Brooklyn Nets,” which takes another top-tier target off the board for New York.

Even if the Knicks still do sign Durant this summer, they’ll need a second star to shoulder the offensive load in 2019-20 while he recovers from his Achilles tear. They might not find a better option than Walker, a New York native who has made three straight All-Star games and earned his first All-NBA nod this season while playing all 82 games for the Hornets.

The Dallas Mavericks did send 2017 No. 9 overall pick Dennis Smith Jr. to New York as part of the package for Kristaps Porzingis ahead of the trade deadline, but he didn’t show enough in his 600 minutes to cement himself as the Knicks’ point guard of the future. If Walker expresses interest in heading to the Big Apple this summer, the Knicks likely would begin fielding offers on Smith immediately.

After picking up Allonzo Trier’s $3.5 million team option, the Knicks could carve out roughly $70.5 million in salary-cap space. They’d have just enough room to sign both Durant ($38.15 million) and Walker ($32.7 million) to their respective max starting salaries, but Walker may not want to punt a year of his prime by heading to New York as Durant recovers from his Achilles injury.

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