The NBA rumor mill is not going to stop anytime soon from churning out juicy trade probabilities as the trade deadline nears. And among those that are rumored to be on the trade block is Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker. Charlotte head coach Steve Clifford, however, does not think that Walker would want to be traded to another team — at least for this season — according to Chris Kroeger of WFNZ.com.
Steve Clifford on Kemba trade rumors: "I'd be shocked if he didn't want to be here. I mean…he's building a house here right now….I've been around long enough to know you never say never, but I just can't see a scenario where that plays out." #Hornets #BuzzCity
— Chris Kroeger (@Kroeger) January 12, 2018
The Hornets are noticeably underperforming this season. They are just 15-24 through their first 29 games.
That despite the renaissance of center Dwight Howard and the consistent steady play of Walker, arguably the team’s best asset. With a bad start to the season, Steve Clifford and the Hornets are being viewed by plenty of basketball observers as a team who could be a seller at the trade deadline. The question for them though is who exactly would the Hornets dangle in front of the buyers?
Although Howard has been a double-double machine this season, Walker is generally considered as the Hornets’ best player. On the season, Walker is topping Charlotte in both points and assists with 21.8 and 5.8 per game, respectively. He is also leading the team with 2.4 three-pointers made per game.
It makes sense for the Hornets to field offers from other teams for Walker, especially if they don’t think they are going to turn things around this season. That’s going to be an unlikely mindset for Charlotte, but the team has been regularly proving that they are no more than throw-in playoff contenders in the Eastern Conference.
Kemba Walker’s four-year contract with the Hornets will expire in 2019, so they are not necessarily pressured to decide on the player’s situation in Charlotte.
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