10. Kemba Walker, Charlotte Hornets
Last year was a career year for Walker, averaging a career-high 23.2 points per game while shooting 39.9 percent from deep. As a high-volume scorer, that kind of boost in efficiency is something Walker will look to sustain next season. With Nic Batum now sidelined, he’ll be looking to do so with less established pieces on the perimeter as well.
The Hornets will have the benefit on a weak Eastern Conference, where Walker alone could be enough to launch them into the playoff conversation. He projects once again as a dynamic three-level scorer, while his partnership with Dwight Howard could yield some promising results if the latter is willing to accept a more defined role than he has in the past.
Walker isn’t a great defender, but his ability to shoulder such a significant load on offense slides him into the top 10 entering next season. He’s more well-rounded that he has been in years past, and looks primed to make yet another push for the All-Star game.