All-Star point guard Kemba Walker is reportedly on his way to Boston to finalize a four-year, $141 million deal to become a Celtic.
Kemba Walker is reportedly heading to the Boston Celtics.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Walker will travel to Boston on Sunday to meet with GM Danny Ainge and the rest of the Celtics brass to finalize the deal. According to Wojnarowski, the Celtics will offer Walker a four-year, $141 million deal.
As reported this week, the Celtics and Walker both intend for the All-Star guard to commit to a four-year, $141M maximum contract once free agency opens on Sunday at 6 PM. Walker is traveling to New England to meet with Celtics officials at 6 PM ET. https://t.co/KxKR56ezXB
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2019
The Walker deal all but guarantee’s Kyrie Irving’s exit from the Celtics and will usher in a new era in Boston centered around Walker, Jaylen Brown, and Jayson Tatum. The new-look Celtics could also include Clint Capela as the Rockets are desperate to off-load him in their pursuit of the Philadelphia 76ers’ Jimmy Butler.
While landing Walker was a huge coup for the Celtics, it was a dramatic blow for the Charlotte Hornets, who were hoping to re-sign him this summer. Walker has come into his own as one of the NBA’s more dynamic scores, but a lack of help often made him a one-man show in the Queen City.
With Charlotte’s cap space tied up in bad contracts, it was difficult for the Hornets front office to build a contending team around Walker, and facing this reality, the All-Star was ready to leave Charlotte.
Apparently, the Hornets have long-known that Walker was looking to sign elsewhere as, in another Woj tweet, the Hornets were beginning to scour the free agent landscape looking for another lead guard.
Charlotte has been scouring the free agent point guard market, considering such options as Elfrid Peyton, TJ McConnell, Ish Smith and Emmanuel Mudiay, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2019
Boston fans have reason to be excited about the man that will replace Irving. Walker should continue to thrive in Brad Steven’s system, and with a better core of players around him, there is no reason for anyone to think that the Celtics won’t be contenders in the East next season.