Kemba Walker
Alright, guys. I’m not even going to try to hide my bias on this one. I absolutely love Kemba Walker. And if the Utah Jazz were to land him, I would be beside myself. This is by far my top choice on the list.
Sure, you may think I’m dealing with recency bias considering that Kemba currently leads the entire NBA in scoring and is fresh off a career-high 60-point game that he followed up with a 43-point outpouring, but my affinity for Walker and desire to have him join the Jazz dates well back to before this season. Even so, I’ll admit that his recent play has certainly been nice icing on the cake for how much I want him in Utah’s ranks.
Can you just imagine his incredible scoring ability paired with Donovan Mitchell’s athleticism and slashing talents? The two would shred opposing backcourts and run them ragged by putting on a scoring and finishing clinic. Kemba is an absolutely phenomenal shooter, finisher and passer that would galvanize a Jazz offense that hasn’t had a as good of a point guard as Kemba since at least Deron Williams, and perhaps not since the man John Stockton himself.
Adding an exhilarating point guard of that caliber would be ideal for a Jazz team that has to deal with prolific opposing point guards night in and night out in the daunting Western Conference. Don’t get me wrong, Ricky Rubio is a great guy, but his inconsistency and shooting woes simply can’t hold a candle to what Kemba could do for this squad.
Sure, there are questions about Kemba’s defense, but any deficiencies he has there are more due to size, not due to effort or athleticism. He’s willing on that end and I’m confident he would buy in one hundred percent to Quin’s hard-nosed, defense-first approach. Walker has long been known as a driven and dedicated winner, and not only would he fit Utah’s culture, but he’d help advance it to another level.
However, Utah’s biggest road block to acquiring Kemba might actually also be one of the top reasons why I like him so much – he’s as loyal as they come. He’s expressed nothing but love and loyalty for Charlotte, the city he has made his home, and it’s hard to even imagine him leaving. He’s stated a sincere desire to stay put and continue to help the franchise for which he’s become one of their all-time great players and filled their record books.
Considering the legacy that Kemba has built there, it wouldn’t be surprising if he opts to keep that intact. However, on the off chance that the Hornets opt to blow things up and start from scratch, or that Walker becomes frustrated with a potential lack of moves on Charlotte’s part to add more help for him, the Jazz had better come calling.
I have a hard time seeing the Hornets wanting to part ways with him, or Kemba wanting to part ways with the Hornets. Nevertheless, his fit in Utah would be revolutionary. His impact would be unmatched. He’d fill what I believe is Utah’s greatest need as evidenced by what’s been a lackluster backcourt and point guard position for the past several years.
Nothing would thrill me more than seeing Kemba Walker suit up for the Utah Jazz next season, regardless of the cost.
I’m sure I’ve filled your heads with exciting visions of thrilling players joining the Jazz ranks. Honestly, there’s a chance none of these will pan out, but considering Utah’s financial flexibility this upcoming offseason and the fact that they’ve been building up this summer as the one where they could make a major move, I’d be disappointed if we didn’t see one of these players at least among Utah’s list of free agent candidates.
I suppose only time will tell, but what do you think, Jazz fans? If you could have any one of these players, which one would you most prefer? Let me know in the comments below or on Twitter.