Hornets Notes: Zeller, Kemba, Draft Workouts

Hornets center Cody Zeller had some fun with Kemba Walker‘s impending free agency by jokingly setting up a lemonade stand to raise the necessary $221MM for his teammate’s new super-max contract, as Roderick Boone of The Athletic details in an entertaining story. While Zeller’s fundraising efforts were obviously in jest, he recognizes the importance of Kemba’s upcoming decision, acknowledging that it’s a “pretty serious situation” for the franchise.

“I mean, our careers and a lot of the organization, to be honest with you, depends on what Kemba decides this summer, whether he stays or goes,” Zeller said. “I think it really depends on his choice. But our team and our future can go two very different ways depending on what he decides. So I was kind of trying to make light of a serious situation.

“I think he likes Charlotte,” Zeller said of his All-Star teammate. “I think he’s a good fit here. But the reality of it is we haven’t been able to make deep runs in the playoffs. So hopefully that will still come in the future. But at the end of the day, Kemba has to do what’s best for him. And I’m going to support him, whatever decision he makes.”

Here’s more on the Hornets:

• Scott Fowler of The Charlotte Observer doesn’t believe the Hornets should give Walker a super-max deal. As good as Walker has been as a Hornet, the team hasn’t won a playoff series during his time in Charlotte, and Fowler doesn’t envision that changing anytime soon if the club has to commit 35% of is cap space to him.
• In his latest mailbag, Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer discusses the Hornets’ strategy if Walker returns, the possibility of waiving and stretching Bismack Biyombo‘s contract, and much more.
• The Hornets continue to scout this year’s draft prospects, announcing in a press release that they worked out Ty Jerome (Virginia), Christ Koumadje (Florida State), Jalen Lecque (Brewster Academy), Greg Malinowski (Georgetown), Joshua Obiesie (Germany), and Trayvon Reed (Texas Southern) on Wednesday.
• Another group of six prospects is auditioning for the Hornets today, according to the team. That group is made up of Jordan Caroline (Nevada), Torin Dorn (N.C. State), Robert Franks (Washington State), William McDowell-White (Germany), Travis Munnings (Louisiana-Monroe), and Justin Wright-Foreman (Hofstra).