17. Charlotte Hornets (27-30)
The Charlotte Hornets limped into the NBA All-Star break, but they are still in the top 8 of the Eastern Conference. There’s no question that they are going to fight for every win in the remainder of the year, and they’re going to need the best of Kemba Walker.
It should be noted that the Hornets have the second-most difficult remaining schedule in the NBA, and the most difficult schedule in the Eastern Conference. It might be difficult for them to remain atop the top 8.
However, with Kemba’s impending free agency decision coming in July, there’s really no missing the playoffs this season. If so, re-signing Kemba would be a tough sell to make – assuming that Kemba asks for a max contract.