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2019 NBA Free Agency: Winners and losers from Day 1

By Daniel Lubofsky

OAKLAND, CA - JANUARY 27: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors and Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics during the game on January 27, 2018 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - JANUARY 27: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors and Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics during the game on January 27, 2018 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Losers: Charlotte Hornets

Anytime you lose a three-time All-Star point guard in the midst of his prime, it’s going to leave a sour taste in your mouth. The Charlotte Hornets didn’t offer Kemba Walker a supermax contract, instead paving the way for the franchise’s all-time leading scorer to go sign with the Boston Celtics.

There’s a method beyond owner Michael Jordan‘s madness in failing to bring back a player who wanted to be in Charlotte. The $200 million contract that could’ve been offered to Walker is quite a hefty price to pay for 6’1” floor general set to turn 30 this coming May.

If Jordan knew of his intended offer, though, why not then simply trade Kemba at this past deadline in exchange for favorable assets? A number of teams were looking to go all-in around February and at least one would’ve desired a player in the midst of averaging a career-high 25.6 points per game.

Rather than use Kemba’s departure as a means to build from the ground up, Charlotte immediately went out and got his replacement in the form of Terry Rozier on a three-year, $58 million deal.

Rozier doesn’t come without talent, but there’s no telling the player the Hornets are getting. Will he be the guy who averaged 16.5 points and 5.7 assists per game in helping the Celtics to within one game of the 2018 Finals? Or will he continue a career that hasn’t had him shoot above 40 percent from the field in any of his four seasons?

Charlotte’s been in no-man’s land for the majority of Walker’s tenure. Having him walk out the door gave the Hornets a chance to start fresh with a full on tank exhibition. Instead, MJ continued his incompetence as an owner by bringing in a point guard whose talent won’t swing the pendulum much in either direction.