A bold, selfless move by Kemba, who wants to win in Charlotte.
This summer a few big name players might be on the move, but they all have one thing in common- they’re all about to be paid.
But in Charlotte, their star player, Kemba Walker, wants to help the franchise win, and he’s putting his money where his mouth is to do it.
When asked if he would take less money to help Charlotte attract talent and win, Kemba responded, “Yeah I would take less. Sure, why not. I would take less.”
I asked Kemba Walker if he would take less than the Super Max to help #Hornets team build around him: “Yeah I would take less. Sure why not. I would take less.” pic.twitter.com/3vzNWw8Ntf
— Nick Carboni (@NickCarboniWCNC) June 13, 2019
Kemba is coming off his best season yet, and his third All Star appearance. Last year he averaged 25.6 ppg and 5.9 apg, his best in his eight year career. But Charlotte is still struggling and missed out on post-season play again, and that’s a problem for the fans and his Airness, Michael Jordan.
Walker still has plans to meet with other teams when free agency returns in July, and then he’ll make his decision. But after he was included on the All-NBA Third-Team in May, he’s eligible to sign a designated veteran contract, which would enable him to earn as much as 35% of the salary cap in the first year of his new deal. And that could present a problem to the playoff starved Hornets.
The team hasn’t made the post-season in four years, their last being the 2015-2016 season where they went 48 – 34. Since that time, they’ve gone a combined 111 – 135, so to play one player, albeit a superstar like Kemba, over one third of the cap, it could seriously hamper their chances of signing talent to the roster.
But at least Kemba is willing to take less in order to get more.
Ok Charlotte, the ball is in your court.
