NBA: Should the Spurs target Kemba Walker before the trade deadline?
With their roster burdened with multiple bad contracts, the Charlotte Hornets have made Kemba Walker available in the trade market, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Though the Hornets managed to bring in Dwight Howard this season, the Hornets’ chances of making it to the Playoffs look bleak. The Hornets are 18-25, 4 games behind the 8th seed Philadelphia in the eastern conference.
Kemba, an All-Star last year, has been averaging 21.7 PPG 5.8 APG 3.4 RPG and 1.2 STL this season. He was the 9th overall pick in the 2011 draft selected by the Hornets and this is the first time he's been brought into the trade talks since being drafted.
"I've been here for the last seven years, and I'm going to do what I've got to do to help my team win games," Walker told reporters. "That's all I can. I don't have control over those kind of things."
Where does he fit? Which team needs him the most?
Though the San Antonio Spurs are seeded 3rd in the Western Conference, they are averaging just 101.3 PPG (26th in the league). With the Spurs struggling with injuries to Kawhi Leonard, who is out indefinitely, and Rudy Gay, there is an enormous load on LaMarcus Aldridge to carry the team in their offense. This would only burn him out in the playoffs. We all saw what happened to James Harden last year in the Playoffs.
The Spurs currently have 4 point-guards in Tony Parker, who is 35, Patty Mills, who is more of a shooting guard than a point-guard, the young Dejounte Murray, who has shown progress in his second year in the league and Derrick White, who was the 29th pick in the last year's draft.
Kemba, being the player he is, would be a great fit in the Spurs system as his personality is similar to a lot of Spurs players. On the court, he moves the ball, while off the court, he is laid-back and has a great personality. This move, however, could make Parker come off the bench. But, it would upsurge the offensive flow for the Spurs and reduce a huge load off Aldridge.
What do the Spurs have to offer?
The Spurs should consider trading Patty Mills, who signed a 4-year $50 million deal earlier this season. Mills is averaging 9.6 PPG and 2.8 APG, shooting 39.5% from the three-point line. They could also include Joffrey Lauvergne (3.9 PPG and 3.0 RPG in 27 games this season), the forward-center and a pick (which would be in the late 20s) or Derrick White in the package.