The Philadelphia 76ers Must Find A Way To Grab Kemba Walker

The Charlotte Hornets just dealt Dwight Howard to the Brooklyn Nets early Wednesday morning and there are rumors that Kemba Walker could be next. And while teams like the Phonix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Orlando Magic may seem like the logical choice, the Philadelphia 76ers must put a bid in.

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With Ben Simmons leading the way as the Sixers lead guard, why can’t Walker switch over to shooting guard? Sounds crazy since Walker has played his entire career at the point, however, he will be just as dangerous playing off the ball. It’s no secret that Walker loves to shoot. During his seven seasons in the NBA, Walker has averaged 15.8 attempts per game, with 5.5 coming from beyond the arc. This is one area where the Philadelphia 76ers need Walker.

Think about a starting lineup that includes Simmons, Walker, Robert Covington, Dario Saric, and Joel Embiid. With the Sixers labeled as one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, there’s no reason to believe they can’t offer the Charlotte Hornets a stable of assets for the two-time All-Star.

The Charlotte Hornets are seeking players they can build around, picks and possibly the Sixers will have to take either Marvin Williams, Nicolas Batum or Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. For most teams, that’s too much of a haul, however, for Philadelphia, that’s exactly what they need. The Philadelphia 76ers can swallow Walker’s contract at $12 million per and still have room for Kidd-Gilchrist ($13 million). What the 76ers can offer the Hornets is a package that includes Markell Fultz, the 10th pick, and a 2018 second-round pick.

Sounds like plenty for the Sixers to give up but let’s be honest about it. Fultz has no real place on this team with Simmons as the PG and the 10th pick will ensure that the Hornets can draft a good player. Moving Howard was the Hornets way of shedding cap and moving Kemba Walker will be more of the same. While his $12 million seems small, it’s what will happen next offseason that should have the Hornets worries. Coming off of two straight All-Star nods, Kemba will be in the market for a max deal. It’s better to let another team worry about that while getting something in return while they can.

This trade works for both teams. While losing the two draft picks will sting for the 76ers, gaining a veteran defensive wing like Kidd-Gilchrist will work out better for the second unit. As far as losing Fultz, it won’t be as big of a deal as some may think. The Philadelphia 76ers have played the majority of this rookie year without his services as others have stepped into his role. Bringing in Walker will allow the Philadelphia 76ers to let go of any thoughts of resigning Redick.

Adding Kemba Walker will move Fultz out the picture, so why not use the former No. 1 pick to gain an All-Star player?

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Mark Wilson

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.