Rumors: How the Phoenix Suns can acquire a Southeast Division starting point guard
By Adam Maynes
Charlotte Hornets
Kemba Walker is the name that all Phoenix Suns fans gravitate to, but it makes zero sense for Phoenix to trade for him unless the Hornets completely collapsed, they saw their playoff hopes fizzle by Thanksgiving, and Walker makes a gigantic stink about the whole thing making working with him impossible.
Only then could the Suns make an offer, but that offer should not include any valuable players currently on the roster and should consist of protected picks, nothing more than Bender, and whatever contract is necessary to make the trade work (Tyson Chandler, probably).
Why? Because Walker is an unrestricted free agent. While bringing him to Phoenix for most of the season could sell him on what the Suns are doing making re-signing a little bit easier, there is no guarantee.
I would also caution against his style. I have long stated that he is essentially Eric Bledsoe and Bled has never won. Kemba has had the luxury of playing his entire career in the Eastern Conference too and yet he has never made it out of the first round. My fear is that he is just not the kind of point guard to build around and Phoenix should avoid him (consider that he is averaging over 30 points per game so far this season, Charlotte has an under-.500 record, and he has only averaged 6 assists a game or more once in his career – six seasons ago.
The Suns might be able to take a flier on Devonte’ Graham as well, but I doubt that he comes to Phoenix as a starter, and they don’t really need any more backup point guards.