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Players were asked in their exit interviews last week for a review of Dunlap’s coaching style. It’s unclear how much that factored in the decision to let him go. In a post-season interview with the Observer Friday, Dunlap said he had evolved as a coach this season. He noted that he had backed off on managing every aspect of games from the sideline and had shortened practices. “Whether it’s Kemba Walker or Brendan Haywood, they appreciate what you don’t say when the game is being played,’’ Dunlap said. “In college you can literally yell across the floor and direct traffic with a player and it’s perfectly acceptable. Here the pro player can’t stand that.’’ Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Coaching, Brendan Haywood, Rich Cho, Rod Higgins, Kemba Walker, Mike Dunlap 

Rick Bonnell: Kemba Walker 3rd Bobcat to play every game in 2 consecutive seasons. Others: Emeka Okafor and Boris Diaw. Twitter @rick_bonnell

Charlotte Bobcats, Emeka Okafor, Boris Diaw, Kemba Walker 

Rosters set for Rising Stars Team Shaq: Damian Lillard, Kyrie Irving, Andre Drummond, Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes, Chandler Parsons, Dion Waiters, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Tyler Zeller, Kemba Walker. Team Chuck: Anthony Davis, Kenneth Faried, Kawhi Leonard, Bradley Beal, Ricky Rubio, Tristan Thompson, Nikola Vucevic, Brandon Knight, Isaiah Thomas, Alexy Shved. Sulia

Ricky Rubio, Harrison Barnes, Kemba Walker, Kyrie Irving, Isaiah Thomas, Klay Thompson, Nikola Vucevic, Kenneth Faried, Anthony Davis, Tristan Thompson, Kawhi Leonard, Tyler Zeller, Bradley Beal, Brandon Knight, Chandler Parsons, Andre Drummond, Damian Lillard, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Dion Waiters, All Star Game 

Before his team got taken apart by the Spurs on Wednesday, Charlotte coach Mike Dunlap revealed that he uses tape of two players to help mold budding Bobcats point guard Kemba Walker. One of them is the Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul, a perennial candidate for NBA Most Valuable Player who is widely regarded as the top lead guard on the planet. The other is Tony Parker. “We really feel, mentally and physically, the way those two lead their teams is very special,” Dunlap said. “Different, but they get the same results.” Dunlap isn’t the only NBA coach to use the Spurs’ five-time All-Star as a blueprint for what it means to be a professional point guard. San Antonio Express-News

Charlotte Bobcats, Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs, Chris Paul, Tony Parker, Los Angeles, Kemba Walker, Mike Dunlap 

But here’s a specific from Higgins’ email regarding the salary cap and free-agency that I found interesting: Higgins said this summer the Bobcats should have “upwards of $20 million to spend on players,’’ offering the chance to “add the best free agents possible, including max-level players that may be available.’’ The Bobcats did chase free agents last summer, and ended up with point guard Ramon Sessions. Sessions and Kemba Walker have been the most productive Bobcats the first half of this season. Sessions has been a bargain at a total $10 million this season and next. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Free Agency, Salary Cap, Ramon Sessions, Kemba Walker 

The BBVA Rising Stars Challenge -- televised live nationally on TNT at 9 p.m. ET and broadcast live on ESPN Radio, with live audio also available on NBA.com in multiple languages -- features two teams each consisting of nine rookies and sophomores mixed together, drafted from a pool selected by the NBA's assistant coaches. Joining Irving from the Sophomore class are: Kenneth Faried (Denver Nuggets), Brandon Knight (Detroit Pistons), Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs), Chandler Parsons (Houston Rockets), Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors), Tristan Thompson (Cleveland Cavaliers), Nikola Vucevic (Orlando Magic), and Kemba Walker (Charlotte Bobcats). Davis and Lillard lead a group of rookies that includes Harrison Barnes (Warriors) Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards), Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Bobcats), Alexey Shved (Minnesota Timberwolves), Dion Waiters (Cavaliers), and Tyler Zeller (Cavaliers). Oregonian

Harrison Barnes, Kemba Walker, Klay Thompson, Nikola Vucevic, Kenneth Faried, Tristan Thompson, Kawhi Leonard, Tyler Zeller, Bradley Beal, Brandon Knight, Chandler Parsons, Andre Drummond, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Dion Waiters, Alexey Shved, All Star Game 

One of the things Walker likes about playing for Dunlap is either one can be frank. After they talk something out, neither walks away from the conversation with hard feelings. “We want to win and we’re both intense,’’ Walker said Wednesday, following a 98-97 victory over the Toronto Raptors. “We don’t ever get mad’’ if one of them speaks his mind directly. “If there’s any problem – and this is with everybody – he wants to us to be on the same page.’’ Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Kemba Walker, Mike Dunlap 

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist: S/O to @Kemba Walker on the Game Winner!! Twitter @MikeGillie14

Charlotte Bobcats, Kemba Walker, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 

Charlotte Bobcats President of Basketball Operations Rod Higgins announced today that the team has exercised the third-year options on forward Bismack Biyombo and guard Kemba Walker. Biyombo was the seventh overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft and his rights were acquired by the Bobcats from Sacramento in a three-team trade that also included Milwaukee. Biyombo appeared in 63 games with 41 starts as a rookie, averaging 5.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 23.1 minutes. He also led the team in rebounds and blocks last season. In seven preseason games this season, Biyombo has averaged 3.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocks. NBA.com

Charlotte Bobcats, Kemba Walker, Bismack Biyombo 

Obviously the Charlotte Bobcats were high on rookie Michael Kidd-Gilchrist as a basketball player. They drafted him second overall. The thing that got less attention was Kidd-Gilchrist’s likability as a person. Coach Mike Dunlap has seen teammates, like Kemba Walker and Gerald Henderson, go out of their way to help the rookie’s transition to the NBA. Dunlap thinks he knows why. “He’s smart with people. That’s where his intelligence is the highest,’’ Dunlap described Friday morning. “He’s very humble and that’s attractive to our players. When they talk about him, they say they want to take care of him. “I found that was the case at Kentucky -- he had an average game to a poor game against St. John’s (where Dunlap coached last season), but his teammates always rallied around him. He has whatever it is. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Draft, Gerald Henderson, Kemba Walker, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Mike Dunlap 

Chris Littman: Didn't fit in my Kemba Walker story but here he is on Biyombo: "Me and Biz work out together a lot. That's chemistry that has to happen." Twitter

Charlotte Bobcats, Kemba Walker, Bismack Biyombo 

Connecticut basketball alumni are expected show up in force for their former coach Jim Calhoun's biennial charity game. Saturday evening's event at the Mohegan Sun arena benefits the Pat and Jim Calhoun Cardiology Center at the UConn Health Center. Players say it also gives them a chance to say thank you to the 70-year-old Calhoun, who has coached UConn to three national championships. Kemba Walker and Rudy Gay are among the NBA stars who have confirmed they will be there. MyFoxNY.com

Rudy Gay, Kemba Walker, Jim Calhoun 

Justin Verrier: Vegas Summer League All-Stars con'td: Jeremy Lamb, Dominique Jones, Cory Joseph, Jimmy Butler, Kemba Walker, Donatas Motiejunas, Jae Crowder Twitter

Summer League, Dominique Jones, Kemba Walker, Donatas Motiejunas, Jimmy Butler, Jeremy Lamb, Cory Joseph, Jae Crowder 

Scott Howard-Cooper: Bobcats coach Mike Dunlap, on Kemba Walker's improving leadership: “He absorbs criticism very nicely. Mine in particular.” Twitter

Charlotte Bobcats, Kemba Walker, Mike Dunlap 

Justin Verrier: Kemba Walker on tonight's "win": "It counts. We playing basketball. The streak has ended." Twitter

Charlotte Bobcats, Kemba Walker 

Rick Bonnell: Meant to mention: Kemba Walker has added some muscle to shoulders, chest. No Superman, but difference is noticeable. Twitter

Charlotte Bobcats, Kemba Walker 

“He’s got a lot of potential,” Kemba Walker said during a recent visit to campus, “but he’s got a lot to learn.” Boston Herald

Charlotte Bobcats, Draft, Kemba Walker, Andre Drummond 

Kemba Walker's first year in the NBA was nothing like his UConn experience. "I felt like I got a lot better," Walker said Monday as he left coach Jim Calhoun's office. "But with all the losing, it was a little frustrating." Hartford Courant

Charlotte Bobcats, Kemba Walker 

Lang Greene: Bobcats' Kemba Walker: I don't know if I'm going to play in summer league. I'm sure coach Silas will let me know in the next week or so Twitter

Charlotte Bobcats, Summer League, Kemba Walker 

Point guard Augustin becomes a restricted free agent in July, and he and rookie Kemba Walker are similar in size and skill set. Sources indicate the Bobcats spoke with the Blazers, Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder, among other teams, about possibly dealing Augustin. “D.J. Augustin is our starting point guard and we like him a lot,’’ Higgins said. “We tried to extend (his contract) back in December. Now, on July 1, he’ll be a restricted free agent and that will dictate what happens next.’’ Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers, Trade, DJ Augustin, Kemba Walker