Making Charlotte Pop - The Kemba Walker Thread 4

[catch20two]

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Allegedly Kemba is clutch. Or is that just him stat padding at the end of games that we already lost.

[yosemiteben]

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[Diop]

who else is going to take them in this team?

[Hornet Mania]

I definitely think Kemba is clutch, in the sense that his play will not waver due to nerves or being too small for the moment. But the reality is one guy cannot will you to victory alone on a regular basis unless they're an MVP talent. Teams know we have no other options and Kemba can't do it alone. I'm sure Kemba's clutch time FG% would look a lot better if he were in Philly or Boston while still taking a decent amount of shots.

[JDR720]

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[wco81]

Do most Hornets fans want the team to max out Kemba?

[HornetJail]

yes

[fatlever]

I'm still holding out hope that it doesn't take a full Max to hang on to him. If he wants to be here and help build this team into a long-term playoff contender, then he has to realize that putting his full max deal on the team pretty much handcuffs the team for several seasons, at least until other deals are off the books.

That being said I expect the team to offer him the full Max on day 1 of free agency. They would look absolutely foolish to have hung onto him this entire time only to lowball him and lose him in free agency.

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[BeesWax]

Do most Hornets fans want the team to max out Kemba?

I think this depends. If we don't trade him which appears to be the plan then yes. I am not sure that is the best decision for the franchise but I do see why they are scared.

[bravor]

What are the leverage for Kupchak ? 5th year player or team option ? Bonus ?

As for star players, if that Gasol trade come alive, the only way to 'sell' this for Kemba is to make sure Gasol opts in next summer. Knowing next year there would be 3 good expirings to deal (MKG, Marvin and Gasol in such a case).

Maybe this is why the trade is taking that long, Gasol might not want to opt in.

[BeesWax]

Also depends on what you give up to get Gasol. Even with expiring contracts you need some assets to get a true game changer.

[wco81]

Do most Hornets fans want the team to max out Kemba?

I think this depends. If we don't trade him which appears to be the plan then yes. I am not sure that is the best decision for the franchise but I do see why they are scared.

I think it's a tough decision.

Kemba will be 29 in May so a 5-year deal will take him over 34.

The decision is not unlike the deals Conley got a couple of years ago, Lowry or what Isaiah Thomas was looking for before he was injured.

They're all undersized guards, approaching 30 or over 30 in the case of Lowry when he was looking for a big contract.

Even before IT was injured, people wondered if he would be worth it, despite the MVP-level season he had before injury, because the history on smaller guards as they aged wasn't promising. Smaller guards tend to depend on elite quickness to overcome lack of size but as they age, they could lose athleticism, not to mention being more prone to injury.

Kemba's shooting percentages aren't elite. He's obviously had great crowd-pleasing games and moments but does he fit the criteria for a franchise player?

Sure if the Hornets fans love him as the face of the franchise, regardless of whether he's able to lead the team into some deep playoff runs in the next 5 years.

But of course it can't all be on him. Hornets need to get at least another all-star level scorer who can average at least 20-24 PPG on good efficiency.

[-Ian-]

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[Liver_Pooty]

All NBA, probably soon to be Olympian, loves Charlotte, great guy. Some of you bitch too much. Sign him and get it over with.

[316Hornets]

All NBA, probably soon to be Olympian, loves Charlotte, great guy. Some of you bitch too much. Sign him and get it over with.

I'm pretty sure almost everybody here likes Kemba and thinks he's a phenomenal basketball player. That doesn't mean we should pay him a supermax contract. Adding some time on USA basketball will be good for his brand and sponsors, but I'm not sure if I want the guy who we pay 40+ mil a year to be risking his body like that. This has a good chance of blowing up in our faces.

[LofJ]

So long Kemba and thanks for all the memories.

[Robot Rock]

Thanks for the epic games and all the leadership, Kemba. Was a fun eight seasons. Shame he’s the last NBA star the city of Charlotte will ever have.

[SWedd523]

Thanks for the epic games and all the leadership, Kemba. Was a fun eight seasons. Shame he’s the last NBA star the city of Charlotte will ever have.

Why do you say that?

[James Gatz]

I'm still holding out hope that it doesn't take a full Max to hang on to him. If he wants to be here and help build this team into a long-term playoff contender, then he has to realize that putting his full max deal on the team pretty much handcuffs the team for several seasons, at least until other deals are off the books.

That being said I expect the team to offer him the full Max on day 1 of free agency. They would look absolutely foolish to have hung onto him this entire time only to lowball him and lose him in free agency.

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[Robot Rock]

Thanks for the epic games and all the leadership, Kemba. Was a fun eight seasons. Shame he’s the last NBA star the city of Charlotte will ever have.

Why do you say that?

Because the first nail in the coffin of the second Charlotte Hornets iteration was driven in today.