Charlotte Hornets: Prepare yourself for annual Kemba Walker trade rumors

Now 14 games into the season, you can expect trade rumors regarding Charlotte Hornets star Kemba Walker to resurface soon.

Once every year, you get to celebrate holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. Feeling thankful and spending time with your family. Oh, and of course, there’s the annual Kemba Walker trade rumors that appear on the internet every year, which makes Charlotte Hornets fans feel uneasy and nervous.

Ah, yes, it’s about that time again. Charlotte Hornets beloved star Kemba Walker will be mentioned heavily in trade rumors up until the trade deadline. He’s on an expiring contract and is in the prime of his career, which makes him one of the best trade candidates this season.

Sports Illustrated named him as one of the best five trade chips in the league right now.

Has the idea of trading Kemba even crossed the minds of the Hornets brass? I can’t answer that question. However, the Hornets superstar has repeatedly said he wants to remain with the team and has remained confident that both sides will get a deal done when he becomes a free agent during the summer.

It’s rare to see loyalty like this in today’s NBA, which is what makes Kemba so special and loved within the Hornets fan base. I’m sure he would have liked to have some more success during his NBA career, but he’s stuck with this team through all the highs and all of the lows.

Barring any sort of change, it appears that Kemba is committed to this team and wants to remain in Charlotte. The ball is in the court of Mitch Kupchak, the teams General Manager. Does he wants Kemba sticking around? I don’t see why not, but it’s not a definite.

The Hornets have playoff aspirations, and if that goal isn’t looking achievable mid-way through the season, it wouldn’t be completely shocking to see Kupchak pick up the phone and look to deal Walker.

Trading Walker would mean the Hornets go into rebuild mode, embracing the youth and focusing on draft picks. Going through a rebuild isn’t easy, but the Hornets do already have some good young pieces in place with the likes of Malik Monk and Miles Bridges.

It’s what most fans don’t want to see, but if the team isn’t playing to their capability, it may be the necessary thing to do. We still have plenty of time left before the trade deadline, but the Walker rumors are going to be in full effect throughout the season.

In my personal opinion, I think the Charlotte Hornets have a real chance to be in the playoffs this season, and I don’t see Kemba going anywhere. He’s committed to this franchise and doesn’t want to take the easy way out by forming a “super team” elsewhere.

Loyalty still exists in today’s NBA, folks.