Right before the historic blizzard makes it’s way through the Northeast, Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker was in New York to get a diagnosis on his injured knee. It came out worse than he expected.
From the Charlotte Observer’s Rick Bonnell.
Kemba Walker having knee surgery Wednesday in New York.
— Rick Bonnell (@rick_bonnell) January 26, 2015
More from Yahoo! Sports Adrian Wojnarowski.
Charlotte’s hopeful that Kemba Walker could return in six weeks, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) January 26, 2015
Official word from the Hornets.
Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker received a second opinion on his left knee today in New York. Dr. David Altchek confirmed Hornets team orthopedic physician Dr. Marcus Cook’s previous diagnosis of a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee. Walker will undergo surgery, performed by Dr. Altchek, at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York on Wednesday, Jan. 28. A timeline for his recovery will be determined following surgery.
The 24 year old Walker is averaging 35.6 minutes per game, 18.8 points, 5.2 assists and 1.4 steals, which all lead the team as well as 3.8 rebounds. When Walker is on the court their offense improves to 3.3 points per 100 possessions and Coach Steve Clifford recently called Walker the Hornets best player. It’s a shame because this may have been Kemba’s best season to date.
The fourth-year point guard out of UConn is currently tied for sixth in the NBA in assists per turnover ratio at 3.1. He also had a fantastic streak of 3 consecutive 30-point games at the beginning of 2015, which tied the longest such streak in the NBA this season.
Now the Hornets might be looking to acquire another point guard to alleviate the pressure from the man who is expected to take walker’s role in the starting lineup, Brian Roberts. They need to get something in because even though they started the season off slow, they find themselves in the playoff hunt for the 8th spot in the Eastern Conference.
More from Wojnarowski.
Yahoo Sources: Charlotte’s pursuing trade avenues to replace Kemba Walker, with Sacramento’s Ramon Sessions and Heat’s Norris Cole on radar.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) January 26, 2015
The Hornets have also been linked to making a deal for Brooklyn Nets guard Joe Johnson.
