Hornets interested in Kemba Walker reunion

The Charlotte Hornets are interested in a reunion with free agent point guard and franchise icon Kemba Walker, according to Shams Charania.

After being traded from the New York Knicks to the Detroit Pistons on draft night, Walker is expected to be bought out by Detroit.

In need of a backup point guard to play behind LaMelo Ball, a move for Walker would make sense for both parties. Having spent eight years with the franchise and having become a staple in the Charlotte community, Walker would undoubtedly be embraced by fans and players alike. With Steve Clifford returning as head coach, Walker would be entering a familiar environment in an on-court sense, as well.

Walker’s legacy in Charlotte speaks for itself. He is the franchise’s all-time leader in points, field goals made, three-pointers made, win shares, and value over replacement player. He helped lead the Hornets to two of their three playoff appearances since the franchise returned in 2004. He has the only 60-point game and the only 50-point game in franchise history. For a franchise with only one retired number, Walker projects to one day become the second number hanging from the rafters of the Spectrum Center.

While he is no longer the All-Star caliber player that he was at the end of his first tenure in Charlotte, Walker is still capable of helping the team in a smaller role. While knee injuries have begun to plague Walker over the past couple of years, he would not be expected to play high minutes and carry an immense scoring load should this reunion occur. As recently as December of last season, Walker posted 44 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists in a matchup against the Washington Wizards. As recently as November of last season, Walker had 17 points in the first quarter of a matchup in Charlotte as the Knicks took on the Hornets. He will not solve Charlotte’s perimeter defense, but the ability to play backup minutes and allow LaMelo Ball some rest during games would be immensely valuable.

Walker would also provide strong veteran leadership to a young team without any long-tenured players. With Miles Bridges likely having played his final game for Charlotte, PJ Washington is now the longest-tenured player on the roster, having joined the team during the 2019 NBA draft. Ironically, Terry Rozier, who came to Charlotte in the sign-and-trade that sent Walker to the Boston Celtics, is now Charlotte’s fourth-longest-tenured player. Nobody on the roster were with the team during Steve Clifford’s first stint in Charlotte, so Walker could also help his teammates acclimate to Clifford’s coaching philosophy and the nuances of his approach.

A Kemba Walker reunion would bring positivity that the fanbase needs

A Walker reunion would not catapult the Hornets into championship contention or even make them a guaranteed playoff team. While his on-court contributions could be valuable, the true value of a reunion would lie in the intangibles that he would bring. Not only would Walker add a steadying veteran presence to a young roster, but he would also galvanize a fanbase that has witnessed a frustrating offseason unfold before them.