Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan wants to clear the record on recent Kemba Walker trade rumors. He's not looking to deal his franchise point guard, but he would consider it for another star-caliber player.
"I'm not looking to trade Kemba, but I would listen to opportunities," Jordan told the Charlotte Observer's Rick Bonnell. "It's not like we are shopping him. We would not just give him up. I love Kemba Walker. I would not trade him for anything but an All-Star player."
Reports surfaced last week that the under-performing Hornets were shopping Walker, possibly to kickstart a complete rebuild. That led an emotional Walker to say he'd be "devastated" if he were traded.
The 27-year-old has been Charlotte's best and most consistent player since being drafted by the franchise in 2011.
"We bred him, we chose him, we groomed him to be a good player for us," Jordan said.
Walker scored 26 points in Monday's win over the Sacramento Kings. While the Hornets have won six of nine, they remain four games out of eighth place in the East in a season in which many expected them to contend for a playoff spot.
