Lakers Rumors: Chances of getting Kemba Walker from the Hornets side?

ByRonald Agers|
(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
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Recent Los Angeles Lakers rumors have touched on who the team could add in free agency. One player to keep an eye on is Kemba Walker, but how realistic of a target is he?

Los Angeles Lakers rumors have been prevlant, but there has been some news mixed in as well.

The Lakers have done it. Now with Anthony Davis finally reportedly being brought into the fold as the second max-level player that the Lakers pursued, the dream that Magic Johnson envisioned after he took over for Jim Buss as President of Basketball Operations has come to reality.

Two years, a whole lot of drama, a Magic Johnson resignation and a ton of speculation about what the Lakers would give up, it’s done.

THANK GOD! We can talk about something else! Well, it didn’t take long for the next wave of Lakers rumors to start.

Almost five seconds seemingly after the Anthony Davis report came out, Lakers rumors picked back up.

Okay, now what. If the Lakers are rumored to go after a player, more than likely the front office will try to do it, no matter what the cost. The NBA world was a witness to that fact for the last six months. Now we have to figure out a few things.

As shared at Lake Show Life by Kenneth Teape, the Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly looking at Jimmy Butler and Kemba Walker. Let’s take care of one of these players real quick.

Jimmy Butler more than likely will never be fitted for a Lakers uniform. Butler has found a home in Philadelphia where it is widely believed that the team will offer him a max deal. He is also being looked at by the Houston Rockets (Like again) to become that third superstar to make a championship run.

Let’s put this to bed. Jimmy Butler is out. Now let’s deal with reality with a potential star that the Lakers could potentially get in Kemba Walker. Let’s take a look at the Lakers possible addition, shall we?

Kemba Walker is coming off a career year with the Charlotte Hornets, even becoming an All-Star in his city of Charlotte last year. Walker scored a career-high 25.6 points while tallying up 6.9 assists, 1.2 steals and 4.4 rebounds. Kemba shot a respectable 43 percent from the floor while knocking down 35 percent from the land of the extra point.

As a resident of Charlotte, I can easily tell you that Kemba Walker loves the city of Charlotte and the city loves him back. Over the last eight years, Walker has truly sacrificed his body and his bank account to help the Hornets win.

Let’s be clear here, Kemba Walker wasn’t even close to being the highest paid player on the Hornets last year. For the production Kemba Walker poured out, calling his last contract a hometown discount would be a gross understatement.

Remember the winners of the 2016 salary spike, Timofey Mozgov and Luol Deng, who cashed in big for the Lakers a few years ago? Well, some have to lose out and Kemba Walker was one of the players that did when he signed his four-year, $48 million dollar contract before the spike went into effect.

Well, it’s time for the Hornets to pay up in a big way!

Kemba Walker is now eligible for the “super-max” extension of five years at $221 million dollars thanks to his third team All-NBA performance this past season. According to Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer, Walker has already offered to leave money on the table to help the franchise improve…

"“How can they not be?’ Walker said about calling the Hornets his first priority. “I don’t understand how they can not be my first priority. I’ve been here eight years. They were the team that drafted me. “I don’t know if I’ll sign back with them. I’m not sure. But they are my first priority.” “If it doesn’t work out (with the Hornets), I’m definitely prepared to play somewhere else. But I’d love to be in Charlotte.”"

Let’s get the Lakers rumors started shall we? With Lonzo Ball being traded to New Orleans, the Lakers have Isaac Bonga as the projected starting point guard. Not because he’s the heir apparent to Ball or Rajon Rondo, but because he’s one of only five players under contract.

There are reports that the Lakers are desperately making moves to obtain more cap space. Let’s take a look at what they are facing at this moment.