Hoops Habit
Fansided

NBA Trade Deadline: Every Team’s Most Untouchable Asset

By Maxwell Ogden

Nov 30, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) and forward Blake Griffin (32) during an NBA game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) and forward Blake Griffin (32) during an NBA game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 31
Next
Feb 10, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker (15) dribbles the ball in the second half of the game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Charlotte beat Indiana, 117-95. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 10, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker (15) dribbles the ball in the second half of the game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Charlotte beat Indiana, 117-95. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Charlotte Hornets: Kemba Walker

The Charlotte Hornets have been one of the most pleasant surprises of the 2015-16 NBA regular season. Despite playing 34 games without All-NBA center Al Jefferson, the Hornets are 27-26 and currently slotted as the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference.

It’s hard to call anyone on the current roster untouchable, but if anyone comes close, it’s point guard Kemba Walker.

The only reason for trading Walker would be to make an improvement at the point guard position. As one of 10 players averaging at least 20.0 points and 5.0 assists in 2015-16, there aren’t many realistic targets who qualify as such.

Even if the Hornets were able to land a genuine superstar, dealing Walker would mean giving up the best complementary piece on the roster.

A case could be made that Nicolas Batum is the true untouchable, but he’s on an expiring contract. That makes him something of a long-term question mark, although there is an expectation that he’d re-sign in the event of a star being acquired.

If Charlotte is swinging for the fences on a player such as Dwight Howard, it’ll need Walker to be present as the perimeter complement on offense.

Next: Chicago Bulls