Swarm and Sting
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What LeBron James signing with the Lakers means for the Charlotte Hornets

By Noah Elmore

CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 24: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball against Michael Kidd-Gilchrist #14 of the Charlotte Hornets on Novmber 24, 2017 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 24: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball against Michael Kidd-Gilchrist #14 of the Charlotte Hornets on Novmber 24, 2017 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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One of the most recognizable names in all of sports signed with the L.A. Lakers. What does LeBron James’s decision to join the Lakers mean for the Charlotte Hornets?

With LeBron James signing a four-year, $154 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, the NBA’s Eastern Conference is truly wide open. The Charlotte Hornets now have an opportunity to fight for a playoff spot. Does that mean they’ll take it?

The Playoff Hunt

The Eastern Conference is perhaps weaker than its ever been. It seems like the perfect time for the Hornets to try and recapture some of the magic they had in the 2015-2016 season, where they won 48 games and made the playoffs. Kemba Walker is certainly talented enough to lead a playoff team, as long as his teammates show up.

This year, those teammates should show up. Nicolas Batum is finally healthy after battling injury all season. Cody Zeller is back in the starting lineup, which is great news for Kemba. Their fluid pick and roll should happen more often under James Borrego.

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Charlotte is still in desperate need of a backup point guard. They’re expected to sign one, which will help them fight for a playoff spot. You’d have to try pretty hard to talk yourself out of a Kemba Walker-Jeremy Lamb-Nic Batum-Marvin Williams-Cody Zeller lineup being enough to make the playoffs, especially with Malik Monk, Miles Bridges, Frank Kaminsky, and MKG all as valuable bench contributors.

Making the playoffs is a lofty goal, given that this is the inaugural season for both Mitch Kupchak and James Borrego. That said, it might be the only way to keep franchise player Kemba Walker.

The Other Direction

If the Hornets are out on making a playoff push, the Lakers might just have become their best trading partner. LeBron has been in the “win now” stage of career for some time now. There’s also an added pressure for him to win a championship after joining the league’s most storied franchise. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, who is the best reporter on LeBron news in the NBA, mentioned Walker by name a few weeks ago. Kemba in the City of Angels may be more plausible than you think.

Should Charlotte decide they either don’t have the capability to make the playoffs this year or that Kemba Walker is unlikely to re-sign after this year, they might offload him for assets, as soul-crushing as that would be. Of the Lakers young talented core, one name stands out in particular: Lonzo Ball.

Ball, a gifted playmaker and defender, was the second overall pick in the 2016 draft. That same draft landed the Hornets Malik Monk. Who better to pair Monk with than a rangy defender who can utilize Monk’s spacing to drive, cut, and pass? Ball and Monk would be one of the scariest young backcourts in the NBA.

Potential Trade

Of course, there are plenty of variables at play here. This isn’t a trade rumor sourced from anywhere other than speculation. However, if LeBron wants Kemba to gun for a title, and Charlotte decides to get a return on their lone star player, it may end up happening.

In this hypothetical, Charlotte sends Kemba over along with some combination of the various second rounders they’ve acquired. Los Angeles is a little more difficult to pin down. Lonzo’s $7.4M contract isn’t enough to trade for Walker straight up. They’d have to include some combination of filler and picks. Lance Stephenson’s $4.5 million contract would even the salaries, but given that he just signed, a trade involving Stephenson can’t take place for 30 days.

Since ESPN’s Trade Machine is in off-season mode, it’s difficult to artificially synthesize trades. Lonzo Ball, Lance Stephenson, and second round picks for Kemba Walker and other second round picks seems to be the most feasible option. After Stephenson’s first stint in Charlotte, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Charlotte buy him out.

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Solidifying the backcourt of the future might be enough for Charlotte to want to pull the trigger. Ball and Monk would make for an incredible duo, blending their skill and athleticism for highlight plays. The Lakers make the deal to gear up for a title run now instead of in five years time. Bringing Big Baller Brand to the Queen City might seem outlandish, but nothing is out of the realm of possibility now that King James has signed with the Lakers.

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