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Kemba Walker's 60-point blast against the 76ers on Saturday night was a microcosm of his tenure with the Hornets since his withdrawal from UConn in 2011. Walker was a one-man group against Philadelphia, carrying the offensive charge behind a subpar underground casting. And as the buckets continued to flow over the years, the victories did not do it. The Hornets have played in the playoffs twice. Walker sank in the first round in 2014 and 2016.
Former No. 9 pick made Charlotte's attack again on Monday. Walker collected 43 points, including 21 in the fourth quarter, which allowed the Hornets to win 117-112 over the Celtics. Two nights after falling just short against a candidate for the Eastern Conference, Charlotte was able to withstand the pressure at the end of the game and raise her 2018-19 record to 8-8.
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Walker testifies that the Hornets are sitting at .500. Charlotte's lineup is an amalgam of complementary overpaid elements and oversized young players that are not conducive to confronting the conference finals. Walker is the sixth highest paid player on the team. Nic Batum owes more than $ 24 million for each of the following three seasons (assuming he chooses his player option for 2020-21). Bismack Biyombo earns $ 17 million this season and Marvin Williams and Cody Zeller each earn more than Walker's $ 12 million in 2019. In trying to stay competitive, the Hornets leaders locked themselves into a future of mediocrity.
Walker had a career year in the midst of poorly managed training. He is now averaging 29.6 points per game, leading the league ahead of Steph Curry and LeBron James. Walker has the highest number of league clutch points according to NBA.com and averages a high career goal percentage. He is ready for his first appearance in the NBA and is on the sidelines of the discussion with MVP.
Charlotte fans may want to cherish Walker while they can. His contract is in effect after this season and you can expect it to be a very popular product in the free agent market. It's not hard to imagine him in purple and gold as LeBron's next super-teammate. Phoenix could offer a bundle of money just like the Knicks, the Nets or any number of teams. Charlotte can offer the greatest number of years and dollars, which could be the determining factor. No one would blame Walker for having cashed after signing a (now paltry) $ 48 million extension in 2014 for a four-year period, but if he wants a new situation, he will have many contenders.
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Walker's potential departure is a dilemma for Charlotte's management. Walker is certain to bring a good blow to a trade – perhaps two young Los Angeles plays – and losing Walker for nothing at liberty could allow the Hornets to be right at the top of the lottery. But will Michael Jordan accept the defeats and send Walker to controllable assets? This seems unlikely before the 2019 calendar.
Walker deserves better than the poorly managed alignment with which he was harassed in Charlotte. It should land on a competitor at the trading deadline or this summer, but for now, the Hornets faithful must pay tribute to them before it's too late.
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