There's more discussion in the NBA right now about the upcoming offseason than who's going to be in the NBA Finals this spring; that's how out of the control it has become. The future of Boston Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving has been at the forefront of those discussions, but he's not the only premier floor general hitting the open market this summer. Life-long Charlotte Hornets point guard Kemba Walker is slated to be a free agent for the first time in his career, but the UConn product has received far less attention than Irving. And it shouldn't be the case.
For the better part of the current decade, Walker has been one of the most underrated players in the NBA. This season he has been a force to be reckoned with and officially put himself in the elite point guard echelon. Going into the Hornets' Monday night matchup with the Golden State Warriors, Walker was averaging 25.1 points (a career-high) and 5.7 assists per game. His production earned him a starting gig in the NBA All-Star Game.
Currently 28-32 the Hornets are the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference and have been playing competitive basketball. While them being in this position is partially due to the East being extremely underwhelming from the fifth seed down, the Hornets young core has taken multiple steps in the right direction, and Walker is the irreplaceable leader of head coach James Borrego's roster.
Walker is a skilled playmaker. While he has continuity with the Hornets young core and can find the open man, Walker's scoring prowess defines his game. Whether it be playing in isolation, shooting off the dribble, or running the fastbreak, he has a knack for getting to the rim and putting the ball in the cup.
This offseason Walker seems poised to cash in on a max deal, whether it be with the Hornets or another team. At 28 this will likely be his best chance to reel in a contract of this magnitude. But even if he seems in line to get such a deal, little to no one is going to view Walker as even the best free agent at his own position.
Irving has been one of the most intriguing players in the sport over the last three seasons. Whether it be him requesting a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers to get away from LeBron James, landing with the Boston Celtics, supposedly wanting to sign with the New York Knicks, or saying he's going to stay in Boston, no one ever knows what the future has in store for Irving; he's one of the biggest Wild Cards in the NBA.
When it comes to his track record and talent, there's no denying Irving is a star, and this season has been a continuation of the Duke product's extraordinary career. Averaging 23.8 points and a career-high 6.9 assists per game on 49.6 percent shooting from the field (another career-high), he has been the motor of head coach Brad Stevens' offense. He's as advanced as any other player in the sport in isolation, has captivating handles, is an efficient shooter, and the face of the Celtics.
But let's not pretend that there aren't any red flags with Irving. Is he a star who can transform a team? Of course, but he has a disturbing injury history, has sent mixed messages on his future with two teams, and the Celtics found success without him in the playoffs last season. Since the 2011 NBA lockout Irving has appeared in 70-plus games in three out of six seasons, suffered multiple season-ending injuries, and no one ever knows where his head is at.
Back at an October Celtics' season-ticket holder event, Irving said that he intended on re-signing with the Celtics. Then when the Celtics played the Knicks on February 1, Irving said he didn't owe anybody anything and to ask him on July 1 what he's going to do in free agency. So, which is it: is he staying in Boston, or heading to New York?
Last season the Celtics lost Irving for the year in March and many counted them out as a result. Then they went on to defeat the Milwaukee Bucks in seven games and the Philadelphia 76ers in five games in the first two rounds of the playoffs while pushing the Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals. Terry Rozier shined in Irving's place, averaging 16.5 points, 5.7 assists, and 5.3 rebounds per game in the postseason.
Would the Celtics be in a better place without Irving? No, playing without someone for two months is different than doing it for an entire season. But to see how cohesive the Celtics played on both ends of the floor without Irving raised some eyebrows.
Irving was an exceptional scorer by James' side in Cleveland and has shown that he can be the focal point of an offense with the Celtics. No one has ever seen how dangerous Walker can be as a second, or third scoring option. He has proven that he can score at a high level and lead the scoring charge, but Walker has never had any premier scorers to take attention off him.
If he was playing alongside James with the Los Angeles Lakers, do you think Walker wouldn't produce at the level Irving did with the Cavs? How about if Walker was, hypothetically, playing alongside Kevin Durant with the Los Angeles Clippers or Knicks (if the two players landed in one of those two locations this summer)?
Irving has experienced a more successful career than Walker and is still 26. He hit one of the clutchest shots in NBA history in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals, is an elite scorer, and will one day be a borderline Hall of Famer. Meanwhile, Walker has never escaped the first round of the playoffs.
Irving isn't a flawless player, nor is Walker. But Walker is steady, collected, and has no one questioning his future. More often than not people are questioning Irving's brand and future, instead of discussing what he's doing on the floor in the present.
Investing in Walker over Irving this summer could be the safer course of action for teams looking for a franchise point guard. Does it mean Walker is better than Irving? Probably not, but the little attention Walker's upcoming free agency is attracting is hard to fathom; they're likely getting the same contract, and there's a minimal gap between the two, if any.
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