He’s underappreciated from being mired in an unremarkable situation and underestimated because of his size. All that adds to what makes Kemba Walker one of the most exciting players in the league. Now, let’s find him some help.
Out from every corner of the NBA Twitterverse, ideas and pleas for getting Kemba Walker out of Dodge (or in this case Charlotte) have been waltzing on timelines since 2016. Endless chirping to free him from the clutches of mediocrity and shipping him off the Hornets.
And that all makes perfect sense. He’s in the middle of an MVP-caliber season and should be the starting point guard for the Eastern Conference all-star team (but probably won’t be because Kyrie Irving does fancy layups sometimes and people don’t watch the Hornets). Nobody wants to see a star use up their prime on teams with no shot at playing meaningful basketball.
So let’s turn that on its head. Let’s reward him for his seasons of toil and growth by importing reinforcements. Walker’s dedicated himself to Charlotte, it’s high time the franchise returns the favor. He’s pushed moderately talented teams way above expectations since his championship-winning days at UConn.
The Hornets look like they’ll be battling for a low-rung playoff spot and would be a tough out if they made the right moves. It’s time to shake it up in the Queen City.
5. Scoop that backcourt running mate from a division rival
Hornets Get
SG, Bradley Beal
Wizards Get
G, Malik Monk; F, Marvin Williams; F/C Frank Kaminsky, Charlotte’s 2019 1st-round pick
Going after Bradley Beal is obvious and rumors involving the Hornets already percolated. Beal’s divorce with Washington seems imminent and Charlotte has the combination of salary pieces and assets to make it happen.
Washington is a hot mess right now — and so are the Wizards.
Despite the tumult, this team perpetually overestimates their talent and odds of making postseason waves. Getting guys who can be immediately inserted into their rotation plus some draft assets should be enough to get a deal done.
Sure, there’d be haggling over how many/how good the picks would need to be, but pairing Walker and Beal would give Charlotte the best backcourt in the East without mortgaging their future. With the improvement, the Hornets would pretty much be a lock for the playoffs and raise their potential of toppling a higher seed.