Phoenix Suns point guard compendium: 15 potential trade targets

Kemba Walker

2018-19 stat line: 35.0 MPG, 27.4 PPG, 6.3 APG, 4.3 RPG, 1.3 SPG, .443/.378/.841 shooting splits

Pros:

• Getting an All-Star in a career year
• Adding one of the NBA’s leading scorers and a good enough playmaker
• 3-point shooting has drastically improved over the years
• Game relies on craftiness and handles more than speed and athleticism

Cons:

• Hornets would need to completely fall apart first
• Charlotte would also try to offload bad contracts in a Walker trade
• Status as an unrestricted free agent after this season is alarming
• Defense would be a concern for a Walker-Booker backcourt
• Other teams’ offers might be more compelling
• A max deal would run through his age-33 season

A possible trade:

Breakdown:

A Kemba Walker trade would’ve made more sense before the season started, because now that he’s among the league leaders in scoring and playing like an All-NBA point guard, there’s virtually zero chance the Charlotte Hornets deal him away. It’d take a complete and total collapse for that to happen, and even then, he probably wouldn’t be moved until February.

Walker wants to be in Charlotte despite having no help, and the feeling is mutual. Crazy things happen all the time in the NBA, but even if it did, there’d be the problem of having about two months to convince him to re-sign in free agency. That’ll be a tough sell for a guy who’d only conceivably seek a trade out of Charlotte to finally get some help.

A Walker-Booker backcourt would be phenomenal on offense, but a major struggle on the other end. There’d be righteous concern about paying him a max contract through his age-33 season unless he can sustain his current otherworldly level of play for the next 2-3 years, and the only way Phoenix would dominate trade discussions over other suitors is if it’s willing to surrender its 2019 first round pick, take on one of Charlotte’s uglier contracts or possibly (gulp) both.

A top-three protection on that first round selection would go a long way, but might give Charlotte pause. It should also be worth noted that Trevor Ariza — the useful two-way wing who’d provide the Hornets with some cap relief as an expiring contract — can’t be moved until Dec. 15.

Still, the prospect of a top-20 player like Kemba Walker deserves consideration, even with all the potential pitfalls. His game should age fairly well — even as he loses some of his speed — thanks to an improved 3-point jumper and crafty ball-handling. This is a long shot unlikely to ever materialize, but if the Hornets somehow do consider moving him, Phoenix would at least have to ponder making a move.