Kemba Walker and Charlotte Hornets Are Right Match at Right Price
Good for Kemba Walker—and good for the Charlotte Hornets.
The two sides agreed, per Marc Stein of ESPN.com, to what seems like a pretty fair deal on a four-year, $48 million extension—a number that doesn't quite break the Hornets' bank and one that Walker, who had plenty of doubters not too long ago, should feel satisfied with.
Despite leaving college on a high note after leading Connecticut to a national title, there were questions surrounding Walker's NBA outlook, like how would a score-first guard under 6'0" in socks fare at the point in the pros?
But Walker has managed to adapt, and after three years in the league, he's established himself as a legitimate asset.
For the Hornets management, it's got to be refreshing knowing it targeted, drafted and groomed Walker—especially after all the duds it went with over the years, from Raymond Felton and Sean May to Adam Morrison, Brandan Wright and D.J. Augustin.
It's just so rare for the Hornets to actually reward one of the players they drafted this early in the process. The Charlotte Observer's Rick Bonnell highlighted the driving force behind the team's motivation to get a deal done:
"The Hornets haven’t typically extended players on the rookie wage scale at least until they reach restricted free-agency. In this case, Walker’s asking price figured to keep going up, in part because of the anticipated rise in the salary cap from the NBA’s new television deal.
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With big man Al Jefferson looking at an opt-out clause after the season, signing Walker now prevents what could have been a scary situation: Charlotte's two best players both entering free agency this summer (Jefferson would be unrestricted; Walker would have been restricted).
Now with Walker locked up and the addition of Lance Stephenson, who should help improve the team's credibility by adding toughness, defense and playoff experience, the Hornets' sales pitch to Jefferson—the one they'll give in hopes of convincing him to stick long term—just got a little bit stronger.
You'd also like to think the majority of the fanbase will approve of Walker's extension, considering he guided the team to a 43-win season and a playoff berth after it went 28-120 over his first two years.
While Walker's value around the league might differ, his value to the Hornets is enormous, given the roster's lack of playmakers. Josh McRoberts and Ramon Sessions finished No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, in assists last year for Charlotte—and neither player is back with the team in 2014-15.
Walker averaged 17.7 points and 6.1 assists last season, numbers that ultimately reflect the offensive firepower he brings to the table.
He's also proved to be a guy you can give the ball to on final possessions—someone who can create scoring opportunities out of nothing. And that's a quality that will continue to hold tremendous value in Charlotte as well.
“No question, I am definitely the leader of this team,” Walker told Stephen Brotherston of ProBballReport.com last season. “I wouldn’t have it no other way. Guys look to me. Basically, the way I go, the team goes. I definitely wear that hat and I am excited to.”
It's obviously nice to see Walker take on a bigger leadership role. But while his maturity and likability, along with his production and impact, likely factored into Charlotte's decision to further invest, the extension wasn't just a reward for what he's accomplished so far. It's also a reflection of the growth they expect from him over the next few seasons.
Not to dampen the mood, but $12 million a year is a big chunk of change for a starter whose player efficiency rating ranked No. 18 last year among active point guards.
Walker has some limitations out there. Without much size or strength, he shot a poor 46.9 percent within eight feet of the hoop last season, a likely reason for him taking a whopping 544 shots from 10 to 24 feet away.
Feel free to point to Walker's shot selection as a reason behind his 39.3 percent field-goal clip last season.
His low-percentage attack and high usage rate (Walker finished top 10 among starting point guards last year) probably had something to do with the Hornets finishing No. 24 in offensive efficiency.
And with a so-so assist-to-turnover ratio and pure point rating (18 starting point guards finished higher last year), Walker has work to do as a decision-maker and facilitator as well.
But you can't argue with the production he's put up or the impact he's had on this team. And at 24 years old, having gotten a little bit better through three years in the league, there's reason to believe we haven't seen Walker peak as an NBA pro.
This extension seems like a win-win for everyone involved. Walker gets paid and remains the man—he led the NBA in touches last year with 101.8 per game, 4.6 more than Chris Paul, per NBA.com.
And the Hornets lock up a franchise building block at a somewhat reasonable price. Plus, they finally have the luxury of building with an asset they acquired from scratch and nurtured themselves.
You can argue whether the Hornets overpaid by a million or two a year, but this is a deal that really makes everybody happy. Now it's on Walker to continue his gradual ascent.
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