Buzz City Beat: Charlotte Hornets have five players in top-100, Greensboro Swarm trade
Buzz City Beat is Swarm and Sting’s one stop for the best articles from around the internet surrounding the Charlotte Hornets.
After the injury to Nicolas Batum, a YouTuber made a video explaining why the team should trade Kemba Walker. In this edition of Buzz City Beat, we look at where the Charlotte Hornets‘ top players rank in the NBA, a trade made by the Greensboro Swarm and Kemba praising Avery Bradley.
Hornets have five players rank in NBA top-100 (BleacherReport.com)
"Wake the heck up if Kemba Walker checking in at No. 23 grinds your gears. You’ve been sleeping on him for too long. (If you’re more rattled because you think he’s too low, then you have my #respek.)"
Kemba was the highest ranking Charlotte player as he came in inside the top-25. He was just ahead of Klay Thompson and just behind Kyrie Irving. If those players are considered stars in this league, then I think it’s time that Walker is considered one as well. Taking the next step on defense will help put him over the top and into the next tier of players.
Dwight Howard was the second-highest ranked Hornets’ player at No. 73. Nicolas Batum (80), Cody Zeller (85) and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (87) were all named inside the top-100 giving Steve Clifford’s side five players ranked on the list. Marvin Williams was in the “Soul-Crushing Exclusions” section as he barely missed the cut.
Greensboro Swarm trade (Twitter)
"We have acquired 1st round draft picks in 2017 & 18 from @WisconsinHerd in exchange for the returning player rights to Xavier Munford"
Munford played 30 games for the Swarm last year before leaving to Spain as he signed with FC Barcelona Lassa midseason. With Marcus Paige, who is on a two-way contract with Charlotte, set to spend most of the 2017-18 season in the G-League with Greensboro, it made Xavier expendable. Over the summer, Munford put up 10.2 PPG with Team USA as he helped lead them to the FIBA AmeriCup Title.
The Swarm got a pretty good return in exchange for Xavier with two first-round picks. The 2017 NBA G-League Draft is on October 21st. He averaged 18.5 PPG, 5.3 APG and 4.7 RPG with the Hornets’ G-League affiliate.
Kemba Walker praises Avery Bradley ahead of regular-season opener (freep.com)
"Charlotte Hornets point guard Kemba Walker rolled his eyes when asked about the Bradley snub. “That’s ridiculous. He’s probably, if not the best, one of the best on-ball defenders in our league,” said Walker, who will lead the Hornets against the Pistons on Wednesday night in both teams’ season opener."
Next: Charlotte may have finally hit the draft jackpot
Plenty of NBA players were upset last season when Bradley wasn’t named to the First or Second All-Defensive Teams. The Hornets’ all-star point guard had high-praise for Avery. Joel Embiid, Damian Lillard and now Kemba Walker have shared their thoughts on the matter and they all seem to have the sentiment.