There were two significant trades in the National Basketball Association on Thursday. The evening was not all about players being selected in the 2022 NBA Draft. In one deal, the Detroit Pistons acquired point guard Kemba Walker of New York from the New York Knicks in a three-way deal that also included the Charlotte Hornets. In another deal, the Philadelphia 76ers acquired De’Anthony Melton of North Hollywood, California from the Memphis Grizzlies for Danny Green and a first round pick, where the 76ers selected David Roddy.
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Walker only played one season with the Knicks after signing with New York following a trade to the Oklahoma City Thunder from the Boston Celtics. In 37 games, he averaged 11.6 points per game, 3.5 assists per game, 3.0 rebounds per game, a field goal percentage of .403, three-point percentage of .367 and free throw percentage of .845. The four-time All-Star (three times with the Charlotte Hornets and once with the Celtics) in four straight years from 2017 to 2020, went to Detroit, with Jalen Duren (the Hornets’s first round pick). The Knicks will get a future first round draft pick, while the Hornets will get a first round pick in 2023, three second round picks in 2023, and a second round pick in 2024.
Melton will be joining his third NBA franchise. In addition to playing his rookie season with the Phoenix Suns, he played three seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies. In 73 games in 2021-22, Melton averaged 10.8 points per game, 4.5 rebounds per game, 2.7 assists per game, a field goal percentage of .404, a three-point percentage of .374, and a free throw percentage of .750.
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