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Does Dwight trade mean Kemba is on his way to Cleveland?

By Quenton S. Albertie

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 18: Kemba Walker #15 of Team LeBron goes up for the layup against Team Curry during the NBA All-Star Game as a part of 2018 NBA All-Star Weekend at STAPLES Center on February 18, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 18: Kemba Walker #15 of Team LeBron goes up for the layup against Team Curry during the NBA All-Star Game as a part of 2018 NBA All-Star Weekend at STAPLES Center on February 18, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Could Dwight Howard’s trade foreshadow a trade of Kemba Walker? Will the Cleveland Cavaliers be the team that winds up with the talented playmaker?

If the Charlotte Hornets are cleaning house, as their trade of Dwight Howard seems to suggest they are, the next player up on their list could be All-Star point guard Kemba Walker. If that’s the case, expect the Cleveland Cavaliers to be the main players for Walker on the trade market.

Frankly, the Hornets trading Howard to the Brooklyn Nets for Timofey Mozgov in a head-scratching move.

Head-scratching because Howard, despite his unpopularity, is simply a far better player than Mozgov and has an expiring contract whereas Mozgov has two seasons left on his deal. Even if the Hornets made the move for the two second-round picks, it’s questionable.

It also seems like foreshadowing.

You give away your second-best player and most established veteran and the question is, are you still trying to remain competitive?

The answer seems like no.

In light of a report from Sam Amico of AmicoHoops that mentioned the point guard-needy Cavaliers’ showing interest in Walker and the Hornets’ willingness to trade him, the writing on the wall would seem to suggest that Kevin Love or the 8th pick will be on their way to Charlotte soon as the Cavs try to pry Walker from their grasp.

If Mozgov, a fan favorite in Cleveland for his play in the 2015 NBA Finals, is part of a bigger deal (such as a trade to Cleveland), then it seems far more likely that the Cavs would try to create a deal centered on Love and the 8th overall pick.

A deal like Walker, Mozgov and the 11th pick for Love, Ante Zizic and the 8th overall pick would give the Cavaliers and Hornets a chance to retool their rosters.

The Hornets, led by Love and their top-ten pick. The Cavaliers, led by Walker, their lottery pick and hopefully LeBron James.

James is certainly a fan of Love but his constant calling for playmakers and what seemed like the team’s need for a volume scoring point guard rather than a floor-spacing big man probably make Walker a more enticing second-in-command than Love.

Though Love is unique in his ability to space the floor at an elite level and dominate on the glass, he doesn’t have the ball-handling ability or agility to create scoring opportunities for himself and others consistently enough to truly lessen the playmaking responsibilities of James.

Walker, blessed with ball-handling prowess, shiftiness and the ability to score from all three levels, can.

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Walker, a two-time All-Star, averaged 22.1 points, 5.6 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game last season while shooting 43.1 percent from the field, 38.4 percent from three and 86.4 percent from the free-throw line. He also recorded the second-highest win shares per 48 minutes of his career, with .150 (.100 is considered average).

*All stats gathered from www.basketball-reference.com