Wash Post suggests Pacers get Kemba

[Pacers_Freak]

Just read on ESPN that Jordan says the Hornets would only trade Kemba for an all star. Good luck with that....

[Topofthekey]

that deal sure ends the "Stephen Adams Problem."

God, reading that gave me nightmarish flashbacks of all those offensive rebounds that the team used to give up on a regular basis. Things seem to have improved slightly now that Sabonis is in the starting lineup and hustling for those rebounds. But really, early on in the season, it made me want to throw up watching how many 2nd and 3rd chance points the team gave up.

Still, Dwight Howard isn't a long term solution, and like someone else said, his tendency for drama will probably be cancer for Pacers' locker room. I'm quite happy for him to stay away from this team

[Topofthekey]

I'll gladly help out a trade where Howard goes to Cleveland in exchange for Tristan Thompson and we get Kemba in exchange for DC/AlJeff. But I want no part of Howard and his constant drama (has been quiet this year though) coming in a wrecking our fantastic chemistry. Throw in Leaf and the Brooklyn pick that Cleveland holds, and everyone wins in this trade. Especially because the Cavs' locker room is already a train wreck and Howard would burn the whole thing to the ground.

Interesting idea to rope in Cavaliers as a 3rd team.

Pretty sure Cavaliers won't give up the BKN pick just to acquire Dwight Howard though

[Wizop]

Just read on ESPN that Jordan says the Hornets would only trade Kemba for an all star. Good luck with that....

the Cavs are just dysfunctional enough to consider IT for Kemba.

[Tom White]

Kemba is on a nice contract. I think MKG and even Marvin Williams have contracts you could live with. The Dwight, Batum and Zeller contracts are all pretty awful though. I think taking on one of Dwight or Batum to get Kemba would lock us in to being a 3-6 team in the East for a couple years. It's OK, but we might be there already with some flexibility to grow.

If the Pacers were to take on ANY of those contracts, the Hornets should be the ones sending a first rounder to the Pacers. That would be my price for helping them get their finances in line.

[Tom White]

The Star wades in:

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nba/pacers/2018/01/22/arguments-and-against-pacers-trading-hornets-star-kemba-walker/1053587001/

I think I want to keep Collison and our draft pick and probably Leaf too, but I suppose I'd consider moving CoJo and taking on one bad contract if I first met with Vic, Myles, and Damos to get their opinions.

Why? What do you want to do with DC? He doesnt know how to play basketball, so what will you do with him?

You should see an eye doctor. Your unbridled hate has blinded you.

[JermaineOYea]

The Star wades in:

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nba/pacers/2018/01/22/arguments-and-against-pacers-trading-hornets-star-kemba-walker/1053587001/

I think I want to keep Collison and our draft pick and probably Leaf too, but I suppose I'd consider moving CoJo and taking on one bad contract if I first met with Vic, Myles, and Damos to get their opinions.

Why? What do you want to do with DC? He doesnt know how to play basketball, so what will you do with him?

[Vorda]

The Star wades in:

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nba/pacers/2018/01/22/arguments-and-against-pacers-trading-hornets-star-kemba-walker/1053587001/

I think I want to keep Collison and our draft pick and probably Leaf too, but I suppose I'd consider moving CoJo and taking on one bad contract if I first met with Vic, Myles, and Damos to get their opinions.

Why? What do you want to do with DC? He doesnt know how to play basketball, so what will you do with him?

You should see an eye doctor. Your unbridled hate has blinded you.

Take him to your home if you like him so much... I want better player in team... DC is one of the worst PG in NBA...

[Vorda]

Why? What do you want to do with DC? He doesn't know how to play basketball, so what will you do with him?

we're going to have to disagree on this one. I take your "worst player in the world posts" as hyperbole, and I think he has a role to play for a few years which could be a backup if we had Kemba and traded CoJo. If you haven't read the IndyStar article on the Kemba situation, you should. They quote statistics showing that Collison has been playing at a very high level this year.

that said, I'm not anxious to make a big mid-season trade for reasons I've explained before. we have cap room so maybe someone makes us an offer we can't refuse, but I'd like to hold on to our full 9 player rotation.

I dont mind to have him as a back up... because he IS back up player... nothing more... Kemba is better offensive player so we should try to make a trade... I would offer DC/COJO, Leaf and 1st pick... we need more talent in PO...

[Vorda]

double post

[boomershadow]

Seems like this is a rumor that won't go away. Walker got asked about the trade rumors before tonight's game even. Anyone think it might actually happen?

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

Seems like this is a rumor that won't go away. Walker got asked about the trade rumors before tonight's game even. Anyone think it might actually happen?

No.

He might get traded, but I don't think he'll be traded as a straight salary dump for some of their contracts.

If he gets moved, the Hornets will want some young pieces in return.


Also, now its breaking that the Pistons/Clippers are in serious talks for a Blake Griffin trade.

[Grang33r]

Seems like this is a rumor that won't go away. Walker got asked about the trade rumors before tonight's game even. Anyone think it might actually happen?

No. Honestly, i think KP is in a tough spot because of how the Pacers have exceeded expectations. I think there is room for improvement on this roster (anybody watching can see it), but i think he'd be a fool to change the chemistry and culture of the team mid-season. After many of the wins after the games you hear players say how close of a group this team and how they play for each other. I think it'd be risky moving some of those guys out.

I also think, that trading a first round pick would be pretty risky as well. Pacers are only 3 games out in the loss column from the Pistons who just got Blake. A injury or a losing streak, could land the Pacers in the lottery pretty quickly.

While the Walker to Indy rumors doesn't seem to go away, which i agree with you is strange because i'm a believer in where theres smoke theres fire in sport, but Walker to the Knicks doesn't seem to be dying either. I think they are the more likely candidate because they have a higher pick (unless they make a run) and could dangle Frank Ntilikina in a package.

[Vorda]

Knicks dont need Kemba... they are in rebuilding... already have rising star in Porzingis and good prospects with Ntilikina and Hardaway... Kemba is 28 and I dont see what will Knicks get with him...

[Grang33r]

Knicks dont need Kemba... they are in rebuilding... already have rising star in Porzingis and good prospects with Ntilikina and Hardaway... Kemba is 28 and I dont see what will Knicks get with him...

Yeah, you're not wrong. But the Knicks don't operate logically. Atleast not since they had Patrick Ewing.

[Wizop]

I now believe that the whole Kemba idea was the creation of the Washington Post - a reporters idea of a good trade - and not something the Hornets were actually pushing. the game stories last night have Jordan saying he wouldn't trade Kemba unless he got an all star back and the Pacers certainly aren't trading our all star.

[Topofthekey]

Of course Hornets are not pushing to trade Kemba Walker. Kemba is, after all, the best player on that team, on and off the court, and he has stated that he is happy to remain with the Hornets.

I do believe that Hornets are genuinely considering their options for a Kemba Walker trade though. Their team is a hot mess right up now, and it looks like they are going to be paying the tax for the next few years, for a team that's going nowhere. It's easy for fans to underestimate the burden of paying the tax, since the money isn't coming from their pockets. But if I were MJ, I would seriously be quite upset at that team's current situation. Hornets can't even tank right currently, so having the owner pay the tax for the next few years without any promise of the team going anywhere is quite a big ask, imo.

I think the problem there is that Hornets, understandably, are trying to be greedy in any trade involving Kemba. Take the trade with Knicks for example. I think that if Hornets could get a package of Frank Ntilikina plus a potential lottery pick, they really should just be rational and take the deal. If anything, as mentioned by other posters above, Knicks should be the one to hesitate on such a deal as they don't really need Kemba. But sometimes, being rational can be difficult to do. Case in point, I've seen some posters on the Hornets board laughing at the Knicks trade as one of the worst idea they've seen. It just makes me scratch my head a bit. Kemba isn't even an elite level player, but they seem convinced that they'd only trade him for the price of an elite player. It's understandable though as I said, I'd be quite miserable as well if I were a Hornets fan right now

[Tom White]

The player who surprised me last night was Dwight Howard. He seems to be more "tuned in" now than he has been in a while. Maybe he just has a new mind-set? Maybe a better fit with the rest of the team and coach? Dunno, but it was working for him and the Hornets.