2018 NBA Mock Draft: If need were all that mattered

In this case, the need on the part of Charlotte is for star power. Heading into a rebuild (whether the team wants to trade Kemba Walker and admit it to themselves or not), the Hornets desperately need to upgrade the amount of young talent on the roster. Walker, who has (over-excitedly) been compared with Donovan Mitchell as a potential breakout stud from the late-lottery, represents Charlotte’s best chance at finding their next great player.

It will be understandably hard for the organization to part ways with Walker. It was a legitimately powerful moment late in the year when Walker became the team’s all-time scoring leader, carving out a case for himself as perhaps the best player ever to wear a Hornets jersey. He developed into one of the best guards in the league against high odds, standing 6-1 without much of a jump shot or defensive skill. Walker competed at an incredible level for seven seasons and has been rewarded with the adoration of an entire city, despite just one playoff appearance.

Replacing him with Walker isn’t something that will be palatable at first for Hornets fans. The same could have been said for Mitchell replacing Gordon Hayward last summer, and in that way, perhaps this situation is comparable to Utah’s. However, Walker is not as developed an offensive player as Mitchell and won’t be joining as talented and praised a player development program as the one the Jazz have put together.

One season with Walker could be great for a rookie, after which he could take the reigns as the team’s offensive fulcrum.