Hornets Could Reunite With Ex-Playmakers To Play Backup To LaMelo Ball

KEY POINTS

The Hornets may buzz again if former veterans sign up for next season
Kemba Walker seems to have a better chance over Isaiah Thomas to rejoin the ballclub
Roster moves will likely happen in Charlotte after the Miles Bridges case gains clarity

The Charlotte Hornets know they need to address some voids, and one of them is the point guard position.

LaMelo Ball is undoubtedly the NBA franchise’s new future although he may still be rough behind the edges.

Hence, taking in some veterans who could help the 20-year-old guard would be a sensible move.

According to Sham Charania of The Athletic, two familiar names could be returning to Charlotte for the 2022-23 NBA season. They are Kemba Walker and Isaiah Thomas.

Should both Walker and Thomas be taken in, there is no denying that such would bolster the backcourt of head coach Steve Clifford as both are no strangers to Hornets basketball.

As far as Walker is concerned, he had his best years with the franchise since arriving in 2011.

Walker is a four-time All-Star and holds averages of 19.8 points, 5.5 assists, and 3.8 rebounds in 605 regular-season games.

Those numbers dipped since Walker moved out in 2019. He joined the Boston Celtics, a move that hardly worked out.

Walker then suited up for the New York Knicks last season, but things just did not work out as well.

Like Walker, Thomas is also no stranger to the Hornets as he played one season for Charlotte during the 2020-21 season.

However, his stint was not that impressive, norming only 8.3 points, 1.4 assists, and 1.2 rebounds in 17 games.

Thomas, based on the numbers, is likely to be the third-string point guard if he and Walker sign up with Charlotte this offseason.

Unless Clifford has plans of possibly using Ball in some other capacity or opts for a two-guard combo, Walker may have the upper hand over Thomas.

Aside from this, the Hornets have hardly made any noise this coming NBA season.

They did re-sign Cody Martin this offseason but no other free agency moves have been made as of this writing.

One reason possibly behind the limited roster moves may be the legal woes of Miles Bridges as the 24-year-old cager is facing felony charges for domestic violence and child abuse.

The Hornets still have the option of matching any offers thrown the way of the 6-foot-7 forward.