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Kemba Walker responds to trade report: 'I've put my heart and soul into this team'

Kemba Walker, 27, has been with Charlotte since being drafted with the ninth overall pick in 2011.

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Kemba Walker responds to trade report: 'I've put my heart and soul into this team'

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As his name circulates through the NBA trade rumor mill, Hornets point guard Kemba Walker says he'd be "pretty upset" if he were to be sent out of Charlotte.

"I'm here right now," Walker told reporters at Friday's practice. "I've put my heart and soul into this team, this city, and that's what I'm going to do until everything is over."

Walker, 27, has been with the franchise since being drafted with the ninth overall pick in 2011 after a stellar three-year career at University of Connecticut. He has led the team in scoring in five of his seven seasons, including last year's All-Star campaign in which he put up a career-high 23.2 points per game.

"This is where I got my opportunity," Walker said. "Seven years in now, I've been here for seven years. I do a lot with the community, of course. I've gotten to know a lot of the fans. A lot of the fans have a lot of love for me, as well as I've got love for them. Of course I'm going to be tied to this place. This is kind of where I've grown up. This is definitely home."

Steve Clifford, who has been Charlotte's head coach since 2013, said he has no knowledge of trade talks. 

"I'll tell you the same thing I tell the players: Nobody has said anything about (a trade) here," Clifford said. "It's a rumor. ... He's our best player, he's the face of the franchise, and I think it'd be very difficult to find a scenario where he'd get traded." 

An ESPN report published Friday listed Walker as available in trade discussions ahead of the Feb. 8 deadline. 

"I've seen (the report)," Walker said. "This is the first time I've really been in this kind of situation, but what can I do? I'm still here. I've been here for the last seven years, and I'm going to do what I've got to do to help my team win games."

The Hornets, who host Miami on Saturday, sit at 18-25 this season, four games behind the eighth-place Philadelphia 76ers.

Follow USA TODAY Sports' AJ Neuharth-Keusch on Twitter @tweetAJNK

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Charlotte Hornets' Kemba Walker, Steve Clifford respond to trade report

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Kemba Walker responds to trade report: 'I've put my heart and soul into this team'

Kemba Walker, 27, has been with Charlotte since being drafted with the ninth overall pick in 2011.

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Kemba Walker responds to trade report: 'I've put my heart and soul into this team'

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SportsPulse: The Cavaliers are in another mid-season slump, but NBA Insider Jeff Zillgitt doesn't think Cleveland should be too worried yet. USA TODAY Sports

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As his name circulates through the NBA trade rumor mill, Hornets point guard Kemba Walker says he'd be "pretty upset" if he were to be sent out of Charlotte.

"I'm here right now," Walker told reporters at Friday's practice. "I've put my heart and soul into this team, this city, and that's what I'm going to do until everything is over."

Walker, 27, has been with the franchise since being drafted with the ninth overall pick in 2011 after a stellar three-year career at University of Connecticut. He has led the team in scoring in five of his seven seasons, including last year's All-Star campaign in which he put up a career-high 23.2 points per game.

"This is where I got my opportunity," Walker said. "Seven years in now, I've been here for seven years. I do a lot with the community, of course. I've gotten to know a lot of the fans. A lot of the fans have a lot of love for me, as well as I've got love for them. Of course I'm going to be tied to this place. This is kind of where I've grown up. This is definitely home."

Steve Clifford, who has been Charlotte's head coach since 2013, said he has no knowledge of trade talks. 

"I'll tell you the same thing I tell the players: Nobody has said anything about (a trade) here," Clifford said. "It's a rumor. ... He's our best player, he's the face of the franchise, and I think it'd be very difficult to find a scenario where he'd get traded." 

An ESPN report published Friday listed Walker as available in trade discussions ahead of the Feb. 8 deadline. 

"I've seen (the report)," Walker said. "This is the first time I've really been in this kind of situation, but what can I do? I'm still here. I've been here for the last seven years, and I'm going to do what I've got to do to help my team win games."

The Hornets, who host Miami on Saturday, sit at 18-25 this season, four games behind the eighth-place Philadelphia 76ers.

Follow USA TODAY Sports' AJ Neuharth-Keusch on Twitter @tweetAJNK

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