Hornets should do whatever possible to keep Kemba Walker long term
By Kareem Gantt
Kemba Walker wants to be a Hornet for “a long time.” The team should do everything possible to make that happen.
Kemba Walker has been the face of the Charlotte Hornets for seven years, but now rumors are swirling that he could be on the move to the Big Apple when he hits free agency next summer.
That rumor, however true it is, doesn’t seem to be sitting well with Walker, who has fallen in love with the Queen City and wants to remain with the only NBA franchise he has ever known. In an interview with The Athletic, Walker had this to say about the rumors that he would return to his native New York to play for the Knicks next summer:
“As far as seeing me in New York, I doubt it. I’m a Hornet, and I’m planning on being a Hornet for a long time; so, year, I’m not sure about that [New York].”
If you’re a Hornets fan, that’s music to your ears, but, a lot can change in 11 months, and this is where the Hornets have to do everything in their power to make sure that he doesn’t change his mind.
They have a lot of work to do.
While Walker has grown into an All-Star point guard, the Hornets have been mired in mediocrity. Charlotte has made the playoffs only twice in his seven seasons in the Queen City, and the front office can’t seem to field a team around him that can be competitive in the weak East.
If Charlotte wants Kemba to stay long-term, that has to change. The East will be wide open this upcoming season, and the new front office has a chance to finally build a team that can compete, and also encourages Kemba to not flee the team when he hits free agency in 2019.
Next: Where does Malik Monk go from here?
Kemba wants to be a Hornet for a long time. Now it’s up to the Hornets to show that his loyalty isn’t misplaced.