Kemba Walker gives the Los Angeles Lakers a second playmaker
While Kemba Walker isn’t Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Luka Doncic, or LeBron James when it comes to creating opportunities for other players, he would still be the best playmaker on the team not named LeBron James if he were to come to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Kemba isn’t a pass-first pure point guard. In today’s NBA, there aren’t that many pure point guards, the position has more so evolved into a scoring point guard who shoots 3’s and while Kemba can do that extremely well, he will be asked to play make for the Lakers when LeBron James is off the floor.
Kemba is more than capable of doing that. His career 5.4 APG isn’t exactly a stellar number compared to that of Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook but it is more than serviceable in terms of what he will be asked to do.
LeBron James is the Lakers’ main playmaker and that won’t change next season unless the above-mentioned Chris Paul or Russell Westbrook magically land on the Lakers.
Kemba when he is on the floor makes his team better, it is as simple as that. In the last two seasons, while has missed time the Boston Celtics have suffered.
If Kemba can stay healthy and stay on the floor, it is fair to say that the purple and gold will also get better overall as a team.
As shown by the below, he is capable of some pretty assists too.
Is Kemba the ideal solution for the Los Angeles Lakers at the point guard position? No, he is not, but at least in this instance the Lakers land a 3rd player who can still be a star and they also land a pick.
The Lakers have been exceptional at drafting impactful players in the mid to late 1st round and if they had two picks in the 1st round they could potentially land two guys who for the next few years provide the team with quality depth for a low price.
The Los Angeles Lakers could do significantly worse than Kemba Walker. Should they pull the trigger on the above trade? If it means that they get a consistent 20 PPG scorer and a young piece who could come in and be impactful in the Laker’s future then they absolutely should.