With just over two weeks left until the start of the NBA’s free agent period, the Los Angeles Lakers are currently engaged in an attempt to pry Anthony Davis from New Orleans.
But aside from getting Davis, they probably won’t be able to steal away one of the top free agent prizes of the summer. But with this class being arguably the deepest in recent memory, there are still plenty of players who the Lakers might have a chance at.
One of those, should things not work out with his current team, is Charlotte’s Kemba Walker. And whether he meant to or not, one reporter’s question to Walker may have opened the door a bit for the Lakers. During a media availability on Thursday, Walker was asked if he would take less than the “super max” for his next deal and he said he would to help the Hornets.
Walker is eligible for a Super Max extension this summer, but the Hornets are already in Salary Cap hell. Walker was the 5th-highest paid player on the Hornets last season, despite being the franchise’s all-time leading scorer and their only All-Star last season. And they will need to be creative, likely giving up picks, to help create cap space.
So this begs the question, were Walker to take a discount to help Charlotte, something he wouldn’t really be doing here anyway, would he take less to play for a team with higher aspirations. A team like the Lakers, perhaps?
Walker’s representation can’t be too happy with him forking over leverage just before free agency like this, but in a weird way, maybe taking less works out better for Walker’s career than a Super Max would. I guess we will have to wait and see a few weeks to see how Walker and the Hornets truly feel.
