The Charlotte Hornets will surely undergo roster changes this offseason, but it's still unclear if the coaching staff will also see some adjustments or even an overhaul. Perhaps Charles Lee can learn from his own experience with the Boston Celtics and bring in the help he needs to create a winning team.
It remains to be seen if Kemba Walker will stay with the organization after joining it as a player enhancement coach immediately after announcing his retirement last year. He was expected to give the Hornets a needed boost in building a winning culture. Even though they finished the 2024-25 regular season with an abysmal 19-63 record, the atmosphere surrounding the squad appears sanguine.
Walker likely assumed a role in that, especially since the players have had nice things to say about him in the past months.
Kemba Walker will return to playing
It appears that Walker's time with the franchise that drafted him and helped him develop into a star during his playing days might be up. He is rumored to be returning to playing, reportedly joining the BIG3 league for the 2025 season.
If true, he would be among the past stars who have committed to suit up for the rebranded 3-on-3 tournament co-founded by Ice Cube. Former Hornet and recent Hall of Fame inductee Dwight Howard will also join the party after repeated failed attempts at restarting his NBA career.
The BIG3's new format will feature city-based squads. However, the locations of the clubs are Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, and the Washington D.C. metro area. Evidently, Charlotte is not on the list, so it's uncertain whether Walker can continue his coaching role with the Hornets while playing in the league. Maybe he plans on returning to the team after the 10-week season is over, but it might be counterproductive for Buzz City if that were to happen.
No one can blame "Cardiac Kemba" if he decides to make a comeback as a player, given that he is only turning 35 in May. It would actually be fun to watch him give it a go, especially since the 3-on-3 format would be right up his alley due to his play style. It wouldn't even be shocking to see him become one of the league's best players from the get-go.
Of course, it would be sad to see Walker leave if that would indeed turn out to be the case. Hopefully, the Hornets wouldn't be too impacted by his possible departure.