Charlotte Hornets: Hot Trade Destinations For Kemba Walker
Trying to figure out the Charlotte Hornets will drive any fan crazy. Are they built for the Eastern Conference Playoffs or a high pick in the 2019 NBA Draft? Will they keep their core together or look to rebuild? One thing is for certain; it all starts and ends with All-Star point guard Kemba Walker.
While Walker’s contract only calls for a $12 million cap hit (per Spotrac), it’s what the future will bring that may have the Charlotte Hornets worried. However, such a trade will not come without a huge price for any team. In order to snag Walker (who has posted 24.9 points and 6.3 assists per game), someone will be forced to give up a piece of their future and more.
[BXAds]He’s a stellar scorer and the Hornets understand his value but will Walker wish to stay and play for a team that’s straddling the fence every season? There are a number of teams he could turn into a title contender and while he’s out here putting up 60-point games, the help is just not there.
The Charlotte Hornets will have to consider moving him if they get any sign that Kemba Walker will not re-sign. I know letting go of a player with his skill set will hurt but it’s better to get something than being left standing with nothing in the summer of 2019.
Here are five trade destinations for Kemba Walker:
5. Philadelphia 76ers
4. New York Knicks
The New York Knicks may have a stable of point guards on the roster but all of them combined still can’t equal what Walker can do. Just think what his presence back in Madison Square Garden will mean for the fans. How often does a team get a hometown kid still in his prime? The legend of Kemba Walker grew on the court of MSG while he was playing for UConn. To have that on a nightly basis will mean the world to the Knicks’ faithful and Walker.
With Kyrie Irving stating that he will likely return to the Boston Celtics in 2019, the Knicks may be forced to look elsewhere for a floor general. Pairing Walker with Kristaps Porzingis and Tim Hardaway Jr. will give the New York Knicks a scoring trio not many teams in the NBA have.
[BXAds]The Knicks will be forced to give away some talent but it will be well worth it. As with any team taking on Walker, it may be just a rental. With Walker eligible to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2019, will he want to stay if the Knicks continue to spiral down the Eastern Conference standings?
3. Los Angeles Clippers
2. Phoenix Suns
The Suns have reportedly been in the market for a point guard for the past two seasons and if the Charlotte Hornets make Walker available, they should be the first team to pounce. One glance at their roster and you can see that the Suns are heading back toward the Steve Nash, Amar’e Stoudemire, and Shawn Marion days with their young and athletic roster doing all they can to push the pace.
Walker, Booker and 2018 first overall pick Deandre Ayton could mirror that Phoenix “Big 3” of yesteryear, and would be a really good foundation for this organization to build around. Bringing in a leader in their prime, as is the case with Kemba Walker, is something the Suns desperately need, and he could change their culture.
Walker is still relatively young (at 28 years old) and will have time to gel with this nucleus. As good as Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are for the Golden State Warriors offensively, the Phoenix Suns with Walker and Booker could be just as dangerous will some playing time together.
1. New Orleans Pelicans
Honestly, the New Orleans Pelicans could be the best destination for Kemba Walker, but it all depends on what the Charlotte Hornets are willing to take back in return. The Pelicans can send Elfrid Payton and Nikola Mirotic to Charlotte for Walker and wing defender Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.
A pairing of Walker and Anthony Davis would be fun to watch, too, and not forgetting to mention the dynamic backcourt in which Walker and Jrue Holiday would make up. Although they’d be small by most backcourt standards, they would almost be impossible to stop on the break or as a playmaking tandem in the halfcourt.
[BXAds]Holiday is one of best two-way guards in the NBA, and is averaging 20.5 points, 8.7 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game; losing Mirotic’s perimeter shooting would hurt, but Walker’s shooting could provide more than enough spacing for Holiday (and Julius Randle) to get into the paint at will. Plus, with the Pelicans deploying the league’s fourth-highest paced attack, Walker would get more opportunities to score and make plays for others compared to what he’s getting in a middling, 16th-fastest paced Hornets’ offense (per NBA.com).
Pairing Walker with Anthony Davis should be enough to quiet any rumors of Davis leaving the Pelicans. With a trio capable of some serious firepower, how could Davis look elsewhere?
Mark has been covering Sports and Entertainment for the past six years. His work has been featured on Bleacher Report, ESPN, Fox Sports, Teen Vogue, and many other websites.