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Kemba Walker to New York Knicks After OKC Buyout

Kemba Walker is coming home

Just under two months ago, the Boston Celtics traded star point guard Kemba Walker to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Boston received Al Horford and Moses Brown in return. Draft picks were also swapped. Clearly, with OKC being a rebuilding team, 31-year-old Walker was not part of their long-term plans.

This morning, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski broke the news that Walker agreed to a contract buyout with the Thunder. Once he clears the waivers, he will sign with the New York Knicks.

Walker is a native of the Bronx and attended Rice High School in Manhattan. He also hit the most famous shot of his college career at Madison Square Garden, the home arena of the Knicks, back in 2010.

New York got a great piece

Walker, who spent the first 8 seasons of his career with the Charlotte Hornets/Bobcats, is a 4-time All-Star and 1-time member of the All-NBA Third Team. Additionally an NCAA Champion in 2011, Walker gained the title of Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four.

Walker is coming off a couple of injury-plagued seasons in Boston but will look to pick things back up in his home city. He’ll likely be the starting point guard of the Knicks and act as a star alongside Julius Randle.

Written by Andrew “Jetlag” Preisig | IG @ThankYouJetlag | Twitter @ThankYouJetlag

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Trae Young & Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Awarded Max Rookie Extensions

Trae Young

Trae Young and SGA get the big bucks

The NBA offseason is officially getting exciting. In addition to free agency, contract extensions are in play. Atlanta’s Trae Young and Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are two of the first players to cash in this summer.

Both young guards signed maximum rookie extensions with their teams. The deals are for 5 years, $172 million. If they are voted onto one of the All-NBA teams, that $172 million can turn into $207 million.

Young’s deal also includes an early termination after the fourth season; Gilgeous-Alexander’s does not.

They deserve it

With Young at 22 years old and Gilgeous-Alexander at 23, these two players are some of the best young talents in the league. Young averaged over 25 points and 9 rebounds last season while unexpectedly leading the Atlanta Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals. Gilgeous-Alexander did not make the playoffs in the brutal Western Conference, he still averaged just short of 24 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds in 35 games for the Thunder last season.

Trae Young

Fans should look out for DeAndre Ayton and Michael Porter Jr. to be the next to receive big rookie extensions this offseason.

Check out Trae Young’s highlights from last season below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaUUHqIJEKM&ab_channel=SportsProductions

Written by Andrew “Jetlag” Preisig | IG @ThankYouJetlag | Twitter @ThankYouJetlag