shakendfries wrote:NyCeEvO wrote:shakendfries wrote:Bold prediction: Michael Jordan will force Charlotte to trade Kemba Walker to OKC for Russell Westbrook
I'd rather take the cap space gained by letting Russell walk than let Walker be the starting PG unless I received other compensation or wanted to tank.
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I can't argue with you if you're not a Walker fan, and would prefer cap space and an asset like a lottery pick. However, OKC is a small market and it will be very tough to recruit FAs to play there, especially if they're not competitive. Just look at Portland, who lost all of their UFAs 2years ago, but were able to get the most out of their RFAs this offseason.
From OKC's perspective, they're going to have to overpay their own RFAs from this point forward so they might as well acquire a player who can help them float for a few seasons. Walker is arguably a better immediate contributor than anything OKC can get from Boston, but most importantly by dealing for Walker, OKC would have him for 3 years.
PG - Waker(3yr) / Payne(3yr- RFA)
SG - Oladipo(1yr - RFA)
SF - Roberson(1yr - RFA)
PF - Illyasova(1yr - RFA) /Sabonis (rookie)
C - Adams(1yr -RFA)/Kanter (3yr)
Unless Boston is willing to part with Isiah Thomas, which is entirely possible but is less likely Westbrook is unwilling to agree to an extension before the deal, Charlotte is a team that could make an intriguing offer if they're willing to take the risk. For a franchise that has never landed a big time free agent, Charlotte should definitely consider the risk.
I just think that Walker isn't that special. I view him as a poor man's A.I. in many ways (shoot first, below average facilitating PG with worse handles and less speed & agility).
Batum is a much better barometer for his team's play than Kemba, i.e. the Hornets go as Batum goes. Kemba is mainly useful for the times when you need someone to ISO and get a decent shot up but those instances are (or at least should be) few and far in between.
Since Kemba's contract is pretty cheap, it's alright having him take up like 1/6-1/8 of the team cap. It's when he needs to re-up and would command $24mil+ per season that I'd happily wave byebye.
I think in an ideal setting Kemba is a 6th man on a contender. I don't think he'd settle for that though considering that he has been a starter and I'm sure sees himself as one.
He's not lifting a lotto team to a playoff status and he's not preventing below average teams from straight out tanking. I'd easily take Reggie Jackson over him.
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