Kemba Walker Could Return To Hornets This Offseason

Kemba Walker, Charlotte Hornets, New York Knicks, NBA Rumors
NBA Analysis Network

There was some buzz surrounding Kemba Walker when he signed a two-year deal with the New York Knicks following his buyout from the Oklahoma City Thunder. It was a homecoming for the Bronx native and many felt he would help elevate a team that earned the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference last NBA season.

Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned. Walker was removed from the starting lineup 20 games into the season in place of Alec Burks. Tom Thibodeau thought his removal would help spark the team, but that wasn’t the case.

Following the change, Walker remained sidelined for about three weeks until injuries and players in the health and safety protocols necessitated his return to the lineup. He provided a spark with some big scoring games, but eventually, he was sidelined with knee soreness.

Walker gave everything he had to the Knicks, as it turned out the knee issues were worse than what was being let on. During the All-Star break, it was announced that Walker would remain away from the team and prepare to return to the court for the 2022-23 season.

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Where Walker may be playing next season, however, is a mystery. The Knicks did look into trading him at the deadline and a few teams were connected to him, such as the LA Clippers and Dallas Mavericks.

Ultimately, no deal was reached, but Walker remains a prime candidate to move this offseason. One team to keep an eye on; the Charlotte Hornets.

“Kemba Walker has been training in Charlotte and New York while he remains away from the New York Knicks. Walker could possibly return to the Charlotte Hornets this offseason.”

Walker played the first eight seasons of his career with the Hornets after being the No. 9 overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. He averaged 19.8 points per game to go along with 5.5 assists and 3.8 rebounds, being named to the All-Star team three times.

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The Connecticut product carried his team for many of those years, as they weren’t very good either as the Bobcats or Hornets. But, Walker did his best and was a fan favorite as the face of the franchise. Returning there now, with the team on the rise, would be a good way to finish off his career as his knee ailments are sapping him of his once electric agility and quickness.

Walker would certainly be a veteran bench presence for Charlotte, as that is now LaMelo Ball’s team to run in the starting five. Ball could learn a lot from a player like Walker, who is well respected and showed to be the consummate teammate and professional during his time with the Knicks despite the extended period of time he was removed from the lineup.

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