Lakers Trade Rumors: Making the case for grabbing Kemba Walker

Magic can’t expect fans to let him wait forever

No other franchise in professional basketball has as much hoopla around it during free agency as the Los Angeles Lakers do. All of the talk about the biggest names on the free agency market that never happens has got to have true fans tired of hearing the same thing every summer.

Magic Johnson best not believe that giving that kind of rhetoric is going to sit well, especially if the cards are all in on Paul George and he’s had the wool over their eyes this whole time. By at least dealing Clarkson and Randle for a dependable veteran with a decent contract and worthwhile term, Johnson re-establishes some authority over the situation.

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Hearing from LaVar’s corner more than Magic’s isn’t necessarily a good thing for the long term either. By making a transaction for Kemba Walker, players, fans, and family are all reminded of who was chosen to really call the shots for the organization.

Johnson needs a power moment where he can look LaVar Ball in the face and explain to him that what he says from the sidelines isn’t going to be an x-factor moving forward while also assuring him that if the behavior continues, it’s not worth derailing promising young talent like Ingram or Kuzma.

Especially when Kuzma is ready to go.

Charlotte says yes to this because they know better than anybody else about their situation in that change is a very necessary thing. If they don’t take that step now, it’s unclear just how they expect to be taken seriously in the near future when they can’t get a quality deal when they had the chance.

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Unless there is something lurking in the dark for Walker that hasn’t come to light, it’s again doubtful that a better or more promising deal shows up. Personally, I haven’t been a fan of the thought of trading Clarkson, but if I had to do it and I had a say, there’s no doubt in my mind that I would do it if it meant Kemba Walker.