Kemba Walker should be our starting PG next season

[SJackson1]

its a shame we got rid of Shaun Livingston becasue he would have been a good backup for Kemba

[Katmandu]

Pardon me, the eternal wet blanket, but I would be chary of throwing Walker into the fire. I hated when Paul Silas started Davis Wesley over Barron Davis when Davis was a rookie and even going into Davis's second season. But the situations are almost reversed. Wesley was a combo guard forced to play the point, whereas Davis was a true point guard. In the Bobcats' case, Walker is a smallish combo guard being forced to play point, and Augustine is the true point guard. If you let Augustine get away and Walker struggles, we're really screwed (and I mean more than usual). Point guards are so valuable that decent back-ups are at a premium. Do you really want to try this act without a net? I just think this situation is more delicate than the discussion seems to indicate.

[dnbman]

In terms of pg/combo guard comparisons, I really don't think there is much difference. Both are guys that can run an offense and pass but are scorers first and foremost.

[Jerp]

But what about Cory Higgins?!?!?!

[dnbman]

But what about Cory Higgins?!?!?!

He has two G's in his name, which is pretty cool, I guess.

[CatNation1]

Kemba's assist rate, ast% and turnover numbers make him out to be comparable or superior to Felton and DJs firsts seasons. And he, like them, had to go through the same BS of playing a bunch of minutes at SG/guarding SGs the same kinda thing that stunted Raymond and DJs development. we have to stop doing this to our PGs

[Katmandu]

In terms of pg/combo guard comparisons, I really don't think there is much difference. Both are guys that can run an offense and pass but are scorers first and foremost.

We disagree. I think Augustine is infinitely more skilled at distributing the ball - and he's a better shooter. I'm not saying Kemba won't develop, just that he's no sure thing and you don't want to do this without a back-up. Bring D.J. Back. Let them compete. Let them make each other better. If Kemba wins the job, then D.J.'s still young and there will be a market for him, provided we can find another serviceable back-up. JMHO

[dnbman]

We disagree. I think Augustine is infinitely more skilled at distributing the ball - and he's a better shooter. I'm not saying Kemba won't develop, just that he's no sure thing and you don't want to do this without a back-up. Bring D.J. Back. Let them compete. Let them make each other better. If Kemba wins the job, then D.J.'s still young and there will be a market for him, provided we can find another serviceable back-up. JMHO

1. Infinitely more skilled? I understand hyperbole, but how can you say DJ is that much better than Kemba? I have no problem with someone saying that DJ is a better distributor but I don't think it's by a large margin.

2. If DJ probably is a better shooter, but I think Kemba is quicker to the rack and can score it better. They have different tools. And I think Kemba will shoot from outside better once he's settled down into an NBA role.

3. Bringing back DJ to compete isn't so simple. Rumor is that DJ is looking for starter's money, which we can't afford if we're bringing him back in to "compete" with a very comparable player for the starting role at a much lower price.

If the price is right, I don't mind bring him back here. However, he doesn't look like he really wants to be here, and his play hasn't blown me away by any stretch of the imagination to think we need him moving forward. He may blossom somewhere, but he seems like an upper tier journeyman
from I've seen so far.

[Mustachio]

Pardon me, the eternal wet blanket, but I would be chary of throwing Walker into the fire. I hated when Paul Silas started Davis Wesley over Barron Davis when Davis was a rookie and even going into Davis's second season. But the situations are almost reversed. Wesley was a combo guard forced to play the point, whereas Davis was a true point guard. In the Bobcats' case, Walker is a smallish combo guard being forced to play point, and Augustine is the true point guard. If you let Augustine get away and Walker struggles, we're really screwed (and I mean more than usual). Point guards are so valuable that decent back-ups are at a premium. Do you really want to try this act without a net? I just think this situation is more delicate than the discussion seems to indicate.

Are you really saying that letting DJ...the starting point guard on a 7-59 team...walk is really gonna screw us? What, you mean like 6 wins next year? When you just finished the worst season in basketball history, the last thing you need to worry about is safety nets.

Bottom line is that Kemba is younger, cheaper, and a better leader already. My opinion is that hes better than Dj right now, but I know that he is better than dj at the same point in their careers. DJ is gone. He wants starter money and the last time he was starter his team went 7-59. Just not worth the money he wants for us. Hand it over to Kemba and bring in a backup.

[Katmandu]

Are you really saying that letting DJ...the starting point guard on a 7-59 team...walk is really gonna screw us?

I don't think that a cross between Chris Paul, Steve Nash and the ghost of Dennis Johnson would have made any difference last year. But I know that scorers, if we can actually get any, like to get the ball in their spots and Augustine does that better than Walker. I'm not saying you break the bank to resign Augustine, but that the Bobcats are significantly better with him, than without him.
You may not think he's worth the money he wants but you need to consider what he's worth in comparison to the other point guards you can get.