Swarm and Sting
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Four guards the Charlotte Hornets can target in free agency

By Andrew McDaniel

May 11, 2022; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Tyus Jones (21) controls the ball as Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) defends during game five of the second round for the 2022 NBA playoffs at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Joe Rondone-USA TODAY Sports
May 11, 2022; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Tyus Jones (21) controls the ball as Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) defends during game five of the second round for the 2022 NBA playoffs at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Joe Rondone-USA TODAY Sports /
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Charlotte Hornets, Kemba Walker
Charlotte Hornets Kemba Walker. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /

Kemba Walker

Kemba Walker is not a free agent yet, but he is expected to come to a buyout agreement with the Detroit Pistons. This would allow him to become an unrestricted free agent and would allow him to sign wherever he pleases.

Walker was drafted in 2011 by Charlotte with the ninth pick. While in Charlotte, Walker made the All-Star team three times and made the All-NBA third-team in 2019.

Walker has been on a roller coaster ride the last few of seasons. Last season with the New York Knicks, he averaged 11.6 points per game with 3.5 assists per game while grabbing 3.0 rebounds per game. He shot 40.3 percent from the field while shooting 36.7 percent from three-point range. Kemba played 25.6 minutes per game and only appeared in 37 games last season.

These numbers are significantly lower than his career averages and lower than the previous season when Walker was with the Boston Celtics. This could be due to the injuries he was dealing with or the system that he was playing in with the Knicks.

Charlotte fans know how much Kemba means to the franchise. He is the franchise’s all-time leading scorer and took some of his Hornets teams to the playoffs without much of a supporting cast. He is now 32 years old and cannot be expected to be the same player that led the Hornets to their last playoff appearance, but he is still a solid veteran player in this league.

With the news of the Hornets hiring former head coach Steve Clifford as the new head coach, there have been rumblings of the team bringing Walker back. Walker loves Charlotte, calls it home, and might entertain the chance to come back to the city he was drafted in.