With changes taking place throughout the organization, Kemba Walker understands he may not play another game for the Hornets, writes Steve Reed of The Associated Press. Walker, who became the leading scorer in franchise history this season, has one year left on his contract at $12MM and could be moved this summer to bring Charlotte some much-needed cap relief.
“I have no idea,” he said when asked about his future with the Hornets. “That is out of my control. I am just going to focus on getting better as a player. That is really all you can do. I don’t know what they are going to do.”
Walker made his second All-Star appearance this season while averaging 22.1 points and 5.6 assists in 80 games. However, the Hornets are about $17MM over the salary cap for next season and have missed the playoffs the past two years.
There’s more tonight out of Charlotte:
- The hiring of president and GM Mitch Kupchak and the firing of coach Steve Clifford made headlines this week, but the Hornets are going through a complete overhaul throughout the organization. Most of the training staff and analytics department were dismissed along with Clifford, tweets Chris Mannix of Yahoo Sports. Clifford’s assistants have been retained for now, but they will eventually be replaced (Twitter link).
- The house cleaning extended to the G League affiliate, where head coach Noel Gillespie will not have his contract extended, the Hornets announced on their website. He compiled a 35-65 record in two seasons with the Greensboro Swarm.
- Dwight Howard‘s track record under Clifford was an important factor in the decision to trade for him last summer, but Clifford’s departure doesn’t mean Howard will definitely be moved, writes Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer. The biggest factor for Kupchak in a potential Howard deal, Bonnell observes, is what the team would have to accept in return to match Howard’s $23.8MM salary for next season. Howard put up his best numbers in several years, averaging 16.6 points, 12.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game.
- Rookie guard Malik Monk has a lot of work to do this offseason after being limited last summer by a sprained ankle, Bonnell adds in the same story. He states that Monk could be in line for a starting spot if the Hornets decide to trade Walker or Nicolas Batum.
Monk will be a 18-21 ppg scorer next season if the Hornets decide to build around him. The kid is electrifying with the ball and has a lightning quick release on his jumpshot. If they are going to trade Kemba move him for the Orlando pick and shoot for Bagley.
Build around Monk? That’s CRAZY talk. Monk is an undersized catch and shoot guy that plays NO defense. His upside is “journeyman bench scorer”.
TLC on the Sixers looked like a stud too last year when the games were meaningless. I liked Monk going into the draft but that height and frame, Lou William’s is his upside.
I don’t see anyone giving up value for Howard tbh. And to dump Batum youd have to include Walker or a pick. Is there a team with enough expiring contracts to even do a deal? The highest expiring deals I know off the top of my head are Melo and Milsap [club option] at 30M, but not a fit for need.
Howard is going to be on his final contract year next year, would it even make sense to move him for 2-3 players to match his salary?
Howard to Cavs….they need a center
Howard to Cavs for what?
They don’t have expiring deals next year save for lower value ones (ie. JR) that won’t get them close to $23.8M.
I like the Lou Will comparison for Monk, which if that’s his ceiling, that’s ok but a little less than expected.
who in the world is going to want to take on Batum’s contact?
Who the hell said Monc is undersized??? Dude learn basketball Monc is 6 3 200 last time I checked Beal was a 6 4 STARTING 2 gaurd in this league. Lou is 6 3 and dominate. Stop with this clickbate. Kemba isn’t going anywhere he’s a stud making 12 mill a yr. Our issue is 5 players contracts. MKG Cody Marvin Howard and Batum. 2 of those some kind of way need to be traded. It’s not impossible. Trading Kemba leaves us with a bench of old overpaid guys who can’t defend the perimeter and make shots. And yet again please stop with this Kemba nonsense