Charlotte Hornets: 3 big questions heading into 2018-19 NBA season
1. What is Kemba Walker’s future in Charlotte?
When it comes to star players entering the final year of their contract, the same question always arises: Will he be traded at the February deadline?
Depending on the situation, the team may sense that said player won’t re-sign once free agency begins. Not wanting to lose him for nothing, the team sends him elsewhere in exchange for a package of assets.
As the all-time leading scorer in franchise history, Kemba Walker has spent the entirety of his seven-year career in Charlotte. He’s endeared himself to the community, forming a relationship he’ll no doubt cherish forever.
Having said that, the Hornets haven’t really done much of anything since drafting Kemba in 2011, making the playoffs only twice and getting bounced in the first round both times.
Yes, Walker loves being a Hornet, but he also wants to win, and that doesn’t look very likely in the near future if he stays in Charlotte long-term.
Even if Kemba has the desire to make it work in Charlotte, the front office may not feel the same way, having likely reached its ceiling with the two-time All-Star and wanting to expedite a rebuild.
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No matter what happens to Walker, his impending free agency will be a continuous storyline throughout the season until something actually materializes, whether that’s a trade in February or a departure in July.