5. Kemba Walker
I know, everyone, I don’t want it to happen either.
But, if the Hornets are struggling prior to the deadline, trading away Kemba Walker may be the right decision. We’ve seen year after year this team try to build a successful unit around him, but it just hasn’t worked out.
Since entering the league in 2011, Kemba has only been to the playoffs twice, and the Hornets failed to make it out of the first round on both occasions. Even though he has stated his desire to remain in Charlotte, winning is going to come into play during his free agency, especially with a guy as competitive as Kemba Walker.
It’s always tough to restart, but the Hornets do have some good young pieces in Malik Monk and Miles Bridges. Bringing in young talent and draft picks in exchange for Walker would kick the franchise into full rebuild mode, and maybe that’s what they need, because this team, as currently constructed, is a lower-seed playoff team at best.
Trading Kemba Walker would be extremely difficult, but it may be something to at least consider going into February, regardless of how tough it would be moving on from arguably the best player to ever wear a Charlotte Hornets jersey.