Knicks shed Kemba Walker contract, send him to Pistons in trade at NBA Draft

The New York Knicks are reportedly trading point guard Kemba Walker and Jalen Duren -- the 13th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft -- to the Detroit Pistons on draft night at the Barclays Center.

New York started the night with the 11th overall pick and selected Ousmane Dieng before trading him to the Oklahoma City Thunder. After dealing Dieng, The Knicks acquired the rights to Duren in a three-way trade with the Charlotte Hornets only to move him and Walker to the Pistons, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

While all of the the trade details are still unknown, it is possible the Knicks are making these moves in order to have the money to sign a big name free agent or trade for a top-tier point guard in the offseason.

It's also being reported that Detroit is planning on a contract buyout with Walker making him a free agent once the trade to the Pistons is official, according to Wojnarowski.

If Walker is indeed bought out, the 32-year-old would be owed all of his 9.2 million salary for the upcoming 2022-23 season, per ESPN's Bobby Marks.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Knicks trade Kemba Walker contract, Jalen Duren to Pistons