Ball is expected to be one of the key players this season in the league, despite the abundance of elite players on most teams. The Hornets will aim to make a splash in the East and have a respectable campaign after several years.

Following the victory over Jimmy Butler‘s Heat, it was none other than Hornets coach Charles Lee who showered the point guard with praise in statements to the press. “On top of being a two-way player, I’ve also loved the way he’s been able to play with the ball in his hands and off the ball. His improved running habits off the ball, getting some more catch-and-shoot threes, and trusting his teammates.” Lee stated.

Lee also acknowledges the potential for continued growth: “We talked about pick & rolls and can we hit the seam a little more? I though tonight we hit them a couple times and got wide-open threes. His overall growth and development and trust in all the guys will continue to grow.”

LaMelo played a total of 23 minutes, finishing with 24 points. He also contributed 6 rebounds and dished out 5 assists to his teammates. Without a doubt, a solid performance from the Hornets’ star.

The experience of Kemba Walker

After a long time, the Hornets have a roster with serious playoff aspirations. The experience of the talented Kemba Walker, now as a member of the staff, influences not only the game but also provides guidance for the younger players.

That’s made clear by Miles Bridges, who was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers in 2018 and now represents Charlotte: “It’s great just hearing a veteran voice that I heard my rookie year it’s good,” Bridges said. “And he knows basketball. Him just talking to Melo is big for him since he’s been there before.”

Bridges’ first season coincided with Walker’s final year with the Charlotte Hornets during the 2018-19 season. As a result, Bridges not only understands Walker’s game from their time together in the locker room, but he also gained valuable insights from one of the top veteran guards of that era.

What’s next for the Charlotte Hornets

Before the start of the season, where the Charlotte Hornets will face the Houston Rockets on October 23 for the NBA‘s opening night, the team led by Charles Lee still has three preseason games to play.

• vs Memphis Grizzlies, October 10th
• vs New York Knicks, October 15th
• vs Indiana Pacers, October 17th

Walker was a four-time NBA All-Star and signed a spectacular maximum contract with the Celtics in 2019. Two years later, he was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder and then tried to revamp his career with the Knicks. It didn’t work out for the point guard.

Now, Kemba Walker has made a shocking decision about his next team and, by the way, it’s not going to be in the NBA. An unexpected challenge waits for him in one of the best teams in the world.

Kemba Walker announces his next team will be in Europe

Kemba Walker has officially signed a one-year contract to play with AS Monaco in France. They are currently the French league champions and made it all the way to the Final Four in the 2023 EuroLeague.

Last season, the guard tried with a last chance at the Dallas Mavericks, but he only played nine games before being waved. Kemba Walker was a sensational prospect in college helping the Connecticut Huskies to win a national title in 2011.

Walker took tome the award as best player in the NCAA tournament and, just a few months later, he was selected by Charlotte with the No.9 overall pick in the NBA Draft.

Kemba Walker would become a star with the Bobcats/Hornets and got the opportunity of his life in 2019 with that four-year, $141 million contract offered by the Celtics. He was supposed to lead a rebuilding process after the departure of Kyrie Irving.

Darvin Ham’s menare 7-3 in their last 10 games, a fantastic run thatsaw them return to play-in spots after a long time. Even with LeBron James injured, this team seems capable of making the postseason.

However, they still have work to do. Things in the Western Conference are pretty close, which is why the Lakers can’t take anything for granted. According to reports, they are considering adding a veteran free agent to their roster.

Report: Lakers could sign Kemba Walker

Lakers Daily claims the Purple and Gold could try out veteran guard Kemba Walker, who was waived by the Dallas Mavericks this season. Though D’Angelo Russell is nearing his return, James’ injury would make them consider adding another ball-handler:

“Sources tell Lakers Daily that the Lakers are considering bringing in Kemba Walker for a workout. The team is looking for another ball-handler with LeBron James expected to miss extended time due to a foot injury.”

Walker’s best days seem far behind him, as injuries have been his worst enemy in the last few years. Even so, as long as he stays healthy enough to be part of the rotation, the Lakers could use his presence.

However, as the mainpurposefor Walker’s new role in the Mavericks is to be ready at any given time, his wellness and fitness is key to be part of the rotation. That’s one of the key things Jason Kidd pointed out when he was asked about what he thought of Walker’s signing.

In fact, as the Mavericks GMNico Harrisonjust saidto a local radio station in Dallasabout his fitness and his knee,“It’s not good,” Harrison said. “It’s not good at all. But he’s rehabbed it and it’s the best he’s felt in the last two years so, we’ll see how long that lasts.” So, there isn’t so much confidence on him, but they have been working on a possible replacement already.

NBA Rumors: Dallas Mavericks could land stellar teammate for Luka Doncic

According to Ric Bucher, NBA Analyst of Fox Sports, “The Mavericks, of course, lost(Jalen) Brunson to the Knicks last summer and are in desperate need of a second playmaker to relieve All-Star point forward Luka Dončić. They’ve brought on a formerNew YorkKnicks player, Kemba Walker, for a test run, but a league source said they also have interest in a current one, DerrickRose.

According to the specialized siteStatMuse, Rose has played in 21 games for the New York Knicks in the 2022-2023 NBA Seasonso far. In those games, the 34-year-old point guard has averaged6.4 points, 2.0 assists and 1.8 rebounds in 21 games this season with 13 minutes per game. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but still is better than the previous tworole players in that position.

Even so, as an older playerthan Walker, Rose has demonstrated he has overcome his previous injuries, and has learned to play with a second or third unit for the Knicks franchise. That could be the main reason behind the interest, otherwise Walker needs to improve hisfitness, as coach Jason Kidd said.

“[Nobody’s] reached out to me. I’m just waiting… I just want to be able to play basketball again; I don’t care if it’s the bench or not.” the 7-time All Star said to Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe, as he waits a contract buyout from the Detroit Pistons, after he signed a 2-year-deal that is worth$17,894,491, according to the specialized site Spotrac.

Now, he will have to wait outside the court for an offer that could lead him to any other NBA franchise, but maybe that wouldn’t be possible, as he hasn’t even played in the NBA preseason, where he could have shown some of his skills. So, theseother four players are in the same situation as him.

NBA: Former All-Stars forced to stop playing ahead of the 2022-23 NBA Season

1. Carmelo Anthony

Despite Carmelo Anthony had a pretty decent season, the Los Angeles Lakers decided not to offer him a new contract. As a 38-year-old, Carmelo didn’t have any offers during the summer. That’s why the 10-time All-Starwill have to wait until it comes, otherwise he could be force to retire.

2. Dwight Howard

The Los Angeles Lakersbackup center Dwight Howard had to step up last season due to Anthony Davis’ injury. He didn’t made bad performance, but it wasn’t enought to offer him another contract, despite his salary. As a 36-year-old and 8-time All-Star, Howard could be in his final years of activity, but he still has to wait for an offer from any team to continue to play.

3. LaMarcus Aldridge

After a bad season in Brooklyn Nets, LaMarcus Aldridge didn’t get any chances to prove himself. The 7-time All-Star center played 47 games throughout last season, but he didn’t made an impact as expected. Now, without any NBA offers, its uncertain what is going to be his next step.

4. Kemba Walker

The 7-time All-Star Kemba Walker has been down the road throughout his 11-year NBA career. Boucing back and forth in between NBA franchises in the last three seasons without any major role, despite he has the talent and the skills needed. Now, he will have to wait until a good offer comes if he wants to continue for another year in the NBA.

5. DeMarcus Cousins

The 4-time All-Star DeMarcus Cousins has bounced between four different NBA franchises just in the last three seasons. With just 48 games played in the last season, the 32-year-old hasn’t found any offer yet to play in the next season. Although, there’s no need to prove anything, the time is running out for him.

6. Michael Carter-Williams

The bonus track for this list is Michael Carter-Williams, who isn’t an All-Star, but he was the 2014 Rookie Of Year award winner. Already 8 years ago, a good prospect for the league, that eventually has beenwith six different NBA franchises, but hasn’t fullfilled the expectations. As a 30-year-old, Carter-Williams won’t be part of the 2022-23 NBA Season.

Kemba is reportedly still trying to work his way back into his former shape after dealing with multiple injuries over the past couple of years. The Knicks, on the other hand, could still make a playoff push but have been far from impressive thus far.

Needless to say, a proven veteran scorer and playmaker such as Walker would gauge plenty of interest in the buyout market. Nonetheless, it seems like neither he nor the team isinterested in that scenario.

Woj: Knicks Won’t Buyout Kemba Walker Despite Interest From Contenders

“There are a number of teams who would love to have Kemba Walker in a buyout,” Adrian Wojnarowski reported onNBA Today. “That’s not gonna happen. He’s not interested in that with New York.”

“There’s a very good chance he’s played his final game for the Knicks,” Woj added. “They’ll get to the offseason and with a year left on his deal, see if there’s a trade scenario that might work for the Knicks and Kemba Walker.”

Knicks Will Swing For The Fences In The Trade Market

The Knicks are once again trying to lure a big fish to Madison Square Garden in the offseason. And, albeit Walker is on a low-cost deal, he could be the kind of bargaining chip that could sweeten a trade offer:

“They would be in the market for franchise-type players who became available in trades,” Woj said. “Is there a big player who can become available in trade talks? Is there a player who asked out of another situation?”

“The Knicks really have to take inventory on how much of their assets, their young players, what are they worth in the marketplace” Woj added. “But the goal here was not to kinda be a middling team to be fighting for a play-in. It was to go get high-level players. That will be the objective this offseason. It’s another thing to be able to execute it.”

Things aren’t going well in New York and there are rumors of Tom Thibodeau’s firing being imminent. That scenario could also open up the door for Kemba to get some playing time down the line or next season. For now, don’t expect to see him suit up any time soon.

Some big names like Damian Lillard, Kyrie Irving, and Ben Simmons have stolen most of the trade-related headlines as of late. But even if they’re moved, it’s unlikely to be any time soon as their contracts aren’t exactly easy to trade.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the 5 best players that could be traded any time soon, with the Lakers, Clippers, and Sixers as some of the most active trade suitors looking to strengthen their roster.

NBA Rumors: 5 Stars That Could Be Traded Soon

5. Jerami Grant

Season Stats: 20.1 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.1 SPG, 41.8% FG

Simply put, the Detroit Pistons have no use for Jerami Grant and vice versa. He’s due to make $20 million and the Pistons don’t need him taking shots away from Cade Cunningham or Saddiq Bey.

Grant is a versatile defender that can play and guard both forward spots and even some small-ball center. While not the best shooter, he’s capable of knocking down the occasional three-pointer. He’s the jack of all trades and would be a massive pickup for a contender.

4. Buddy Hield

Season Stats: 15.9 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.3 APG, 3.6 3PG, 38.8% FG

Recently, the Sacramento Kings pretty much admitted that they fielded calls for Buddy Hield in the offseason, which is far from a surprise. He’s never hesitated to speak up and let the team know that he’s looking forward to a bigger challenge.

Hield is one of the most prolific three-point shooters in the Association. He can play at the two, the three, start, or come off the bench. He was pretty close to joining the Los Angeles Lakers last summer before they traded for Russell Westbrook.

3. Kemba Walker

Season Stats: 11.7 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 42.9% FG

Kemba Walker is out of the New York Knicks rotation but that doesn’t mean that he should be out of the league. He looked washed in New York and was even a worse defender than usual but he still has some left in the tank.

Walker could take his career back from the ground somewhere else. He’s on a team-friendly deal and is the ultimate low-risk / high-reward pickup. He could provide some instant offense off the bench for guard-needy contenders. We’re looking at you, Sixers.

2. Christian Wood

Season Stats: 16.5 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.1 BPG, 46.6% FG

Following his breakout year, Christian Wood signed a big deal with the Houston Rockets last season. Now, both parties would be better off going separate ways, as it’ll be a while before the Rockets are competitive again.

Wood can provide a solid interior presence on both ends of the glass for contenders looking for some size. The Rockets would clear the way for intriguing prospect Alperen Sengun to showcase his unicorn-like skill set.

1. Domantas Sabonis

Season Stats: 17.8 PPG, 12.0 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.2 SPG, 57.2% FG

The Indiana Pacers want to move on from Caris LeVert and either Myles Turner or Domantas Sabonis to start their rebuild. And while Turner could be cheaper and easier to get, we expect Sabonis to draw more interest in the trade market.

Sabonis is a dominant scorer in the paint and he can lock up both sides of the glass. He’s not a good shooter so he’d be better off at the five, and he’s a much better ball-handler and passer than most big men. The fit could be an issue but he’s an All-Star for a reason.

However, the Knicks have failed to build from there this season. Instead of looking like the team who made it into the postseason in incredible fashion, they’ve shown weaknessesmore reminiscent oftheir defeat to theAtlanta Hawks in the 2020-21 NBA playoffs.

Tim Thibodeau decided it was time to make some drasticchanges and he shockingly left Kemba Walker out of the team’s rotation. A few days later, the veteran point guard has opened up about this situation.

Knicks news: Kemba Walker breaks the silence after being left out of team’s rotation

The Knicks had reasons for optimism when they signed Walker. He looked like a great addition that would help them get things going offensively and secure buckets game after game. However, he hasn’t been the answer to their problems and, in fact, Thibodeau has had enough of his defensive struggles.

“It’s a tough decision to make, but you always have to do what’s best for the team,” Thibodeau explained. Fortunately, Walker doesn’t seem to have any hard feelings despite how awful this moment could be for him.

“I could be ***, but at the end of the day there are some young guys here who look up to me. Maybe I can be a role model. I love being around my teammates and I’m going to cheer them on until I can’t anymore,” Walker said, via SNY Knick Videos.

“It was tough because I’m a competitor. But I’ve always been a team guy first. If he feels it’s going to make the team better, so be it,” he added. It’s quite remarkable how Walker reacted to such a tough decision early in the season.

Needless to say, this is not what he expected to be facing at this point. But instead of making a big problem out of this, he understands the example he could set by being there for whatever his teammates need.

Kemba Walker is averaging11.7 points this season, the lowest in his career. However, things haven’t gone exactly well for the Knicks since he was left out, as they lost allthree games, which left their record at 11-12.

For now, the latter seems like a more accurate statement. And, even though Kemba Walker’s addition seemed great on paper, the former Hornets star was far from his usual self and isn’t even a part of the rotation anymore.

Nonetheless, that shouldn’t have come as a surprise, considering he’s competing with minutes with Tom Thibodeau’s favorite guy: Derrick Rose. At least, that’s what former Wizards star Gilbert Arenas thinks.

Knicks News: Gilbert Arenas Says Kemba Walker Should’ve Seen This Coming

(Transcript via Fadeaway World)

“You look at his stats and it’s not benchworthy. You’re paying him and you’re playing him 22 minutes. I’m pretty sure he’s frustrated, I’m pretty sure he’s letting you know that he’s frustrated and that’s what you’re benching him for.

As Kemba, you should have seen it coming. You got Derrick Rose over there, coming off the bench. That’s Thibs guy. He done proven to Thibs that he’s a warrior. He knows how Thibs wants to play. He’s done shown what he can do that. You can say he’s back.

You guys are competing on who’s going to finish the game in the 4th quarter. The coach is gonna go with the guy that has proven to him over and over, he’s gonna play Derrick Rose over you in the last 5 minutes of that game…”

Arenas has a valid point right there. But, even though he’s got the worst plus-minus on the rosterright now, he’s on a team-friendly deal and is more than capable of scoring 15+ PPG any given night, so we expect multiple teams to try and make a run at him.

Sitting at just 11-9 for the season, Tom Thibodeau’s team hasn’t been nearly as sharp as they were defensively last season. Adding Kemba Walker to the mix was supposed to give them the playmaking and scoring boost they craved last year but that just wasn’t the case.

Kemba has hurt the team on both ends of the floor to start the season, so Thibodeau had to make a tough call. That’s why he announced that starting on Tuesday’s clash against the Brooklyn Nets, Walker will be out of the rotation.

Knicks News: Tom Thibodeau Says Benching Kemba Was For The Best

“It’s a tough decision to make, but you always have to do what’s best for the team,” Thibodeau told the media, per The New York Post. “I view Kemba as a starter and I’ve got great respect for who Kemba is as a person, number one, and all that he’s accomplished in this league. But I have to do what I think is best for the team.”

When asked about the decision to shift Alec Burks to the point guard spot, the former Bulls coach said that it was a matter of size and how that could help them turn the page on the defensive end:

“I just don’t like the way we’ve been trending, the inconsistency of our team and we’re gonna try to make a change,” Thibodeau explained. “I want to get bigger.I want our defense to be more intact.

The size is the big thing. It makes us bigger. We’ve got small guards and you add [Burks] to the mix, it gives us size at that position. It allows us to do things that are beneficial to the group. So the big thing is getting bigger. At times we play very good defense. Other times, we haven’t. Twenty games into it, we want to take a look at something different.”

NBA Rumors: Knicks Could Look To Acquire John Wall

Even so, Burks has never been a true point guard and the Knicks still have a need for another playmaker. And, according to A. Sherrod Blakeley of Bleacher Report, they could look to trade Kemba to the Rockets to try and bring John Wall:

“A source close to the Knicks indicated New York may also have a potential trade partner in the Houston Rockets, who are eager to move John Wall. (…)The key to a deal with New York will be the compensation agreed upon beyond those two marquee players,” read the report.

Wall hasn’t played a single minute this season and he’s never going to be the player he once was, let alone live up to that massive contract he’s under. But even if this move would be questionable, perhaps it’s just what they need to get over the hump.