8:58am: The Celtics have made Walker their No. 1 priority and are expected to offer him a four-year, maximum-salary deal when free agency opens on Sunday, Wojnarowski writes in his full story at ESPN.com.
It appears increasingly likely that Kemba will accept that deal, according to Woj, who says that Hornets owner Michael Jordan is “no longer determined to extend far enough financially” to bring back the All-NBA point guard.
8:06am: There are “sizable gaps” in contract negotiations so far between Kemba Walker and the Hornets, resulting in a stalemate between the two sides, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
According to Charania, the lack of progress toward a deal with the Hornets so far has opened a pathway for teams like the Celtics, Mavericks, and Knicks to have a shot at Walker. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports (via Twitter) that Boston has emerged as the frontrunner to the 29-year-old, echoing a Wednesday report.
As we’ve detailed previously, Walker became eligible for a super-max contract by earning a spot on the All-NBA Third Team this spring. That means that the Hornets could offer him up to as much as $221MM over five years. Rival suitors can’t offer more than about $141MM for four years, creating a significant window for Charlotte to outbid their competition without technically maxing out the All-Star guard.
While Walker has said that the Hornets remain his first priority and has indicated he’s open to accepting less than the super-max to return to Charlotte, the club doesn’t have the same strong foundation that teams like the Celtics and Mavs do.
If they re-sign Walker, the Hornets would be up against the tax line and would have trouble adding complementary pieces around him. In Boston, he could team up with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Gordon Hayward, while Dallas would give him the chance to join Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis. The Knicks are more of a blank slate, but have the cap flexibility to potentially add a second star to join Walker.
The Celtics can create enough salary for Walker’s maximum salary ($32.7MM) if they renounce Terry Rozier. The Mavs are at about $29MM in projected room and could get to a max slot by waiving and stretching Courtney Lee. The Knicks have enough space for two max deals.
He should join the Mavs… Celtics would be a nice fit too. Regardless of where he goes, getting out of Charlotte is definitely best for him in terms of winning.
Doesn’t make sense for Charlotte to give him the max or $180M to $200M because they can’t build a team that can win losing all that flexibility. Based on Boston’s young talent with Hayward potentially reaching his pre injury performance it seems like that move makes sense. He played at UConn so he knows NE. Dallas has some pieces as well.
Charlotte is a joke of a franchise. Jordan has ruined that team with all the awful contracts and players they have drafted…. move the team to Seattle. make grizzles an East conference team and move the thunder to the southdivision to replace the grizzles spot
Super max doesn’t make sense for Charlotte. To much for his skill set. But, all things considered, a max deal isn’t out of line when you do a comparison across the league. I wonder if the Hornets have even offered the equivalent of a max deal.
Boston will sign Walker because of thier playoffs record.
Hornets can then sign Rozier so he can start and have his own team.
If Danny Boy needs just a little extra cap space, then he could probably talk Pat Riley into Hayward pretty easily.
Heat: Hayward, a couple of 2nds.
Celtics: Olynik, JJ, Robinson.
Sure he has better offers. Yet it’s not a bad backup plan.
David, agreed!
I don’t blame them for not bringing him back, they are a couple of seasons of mediocrity away from having the cap space to make a real FA play, so why spend that kind of money on Walker.
This is of course Charlottes fault, not Kemba. They have made some brutal decisions that have put them in this scenario. Why Kemba would want to stay is beyond me, but with his attitude and wanting to be loyal, he’s going to be a great fit for his next team.
He wants to stay for the money. Not hard to figure out
Luka and Kemba are my two favorite players so I want to see Kemba in Dallas
you dont want kemba in dallas. i am a mavs fan as well
Who could possibly fit as bigs if the Celts sign Kemba?
My thoughts as well.
I mean, so this is what Danny Ainge has come up with after all these years of stockpiling picks and building for the future and hoarding assets?
Give Kemba Walker a Max contract?
I think they shot their load. They had Kyrie Irving, good big men, young wings.
Now Horford Baynes Kyrie (and Rozier, Morris?) are all gone. The Celtics are done.
You act like just because you want to sign someone or trade for a player, that’s what happens. You can’t make a player resign or a team trade with you for what you want to give up. Danny is making the best of bad situation. This team will be better than last year. Mark it down
Danny created the situation, he owns the dumpster fire he set.
Not even close to a dumpster fire the cancer is gone. Kemba is on his way. They are a trade away from completely revamping their roster and compete again.
As soon as Kemba said he would take a discount to stay with Charlotte, I knew he wasn’t resigning there. If the front office hears a player will take a home-town discount, why would they consider offering the max?
why dont the nets go after kemba instead of kyrie. i think kemba is from brooklyn
Kyrie is more talented
If Kemba leaves the Hornets automatically become the NBAs worst team
It really comes down to whether Boston considers Rozier a long term starter and/or whether there are other uses for their cap space. If not, then the move makes some sense. The 4 year outside max isn’t the crippling kind of deal that any 5 year max is (super or not). Boston is shedding two vets, but is still good enough to be in win now mode, particularly with the top 3 teams in the East potentially undergoing some reconfiguration.
Out: Kyrie, Horford, Rozier, Baynes
In: Kemba?
I know crazy right?
So they’re going back to the Isaiah Thomas game plan? One guy has to do everything? Score, distribute, lead the team and do it all?
I Can’t believe they’re going backwards.
1 guy? Tatum… Brown… Hayward …. all gonna stand and watch Kemba? Thanks for your insight Gary
Yes, just like the Isaiah Thomas days. Remember those. Celtics were pretty darn good then. Better than they will be this year.
These Cs will be a lot better than the IT4 teams
Boston just solidified their place as the fourth best team in the East. Side note they have wasted most of those picks already too.
Nobody ever thought Kemba should get the supermax and MJ didn’t even come close. So following today, there is no more need to bring it up. Right?
You can’t control where picks fall in the lottery. They lost Sexton in the Kyrie. Before you say wasted let’s see how this draft pans out and how Tatum and Brown grow
This report broke before the Lakers have carved more than enough money to offer a walk or a max deal if they want to. You have to wonder if now the Boston Celtics are the front runner for Kemba Walker.
Pretty sure if he wanted to go to LA Kemba wasn’t sweating the 3 million that the Lakers freed up
The Lakers are thinking way bigger than Kemba Walker LOL. He’s a Celtics Target not a big name Target.
For God sakes Gary. Name me 1 free agent that has wanted to play with LeBron since the the whole Miami thing
BStevens- Look at the Laker roster for FAs. Nobody should have to list them for you. They were on the Cavs roster too, Rose, Wade, JGreen. And how does your dumb point involve God? What will you say when the Laker capspace fills up July 6?
Seriously? Did I need to clarify “Star FA” don’t be dense
Should we discuss the Paul George fiasco? The other FAs that don’t care to sign max deals to team with LeBron? Go troll somewhere else. Hockey needs some love
Should we discuss how Danny completely wasted countless assets, as your Celtics are a flat 4ty best team in the East while fighting to pay a 29 year old Kemba the max. Last time y’all gave a max it became a top 5 terrible league contract.
Countless? Colin Sexton
The guy had a gruesome leg injury. If that happens to any max guy it immediately becomes an albatross. Next?
BStevens- Who said James wanted George on his team? Same position with a bad playoff record. That much money is better spent for home runs like AD.
The Cavs of course never had money for “star” FAs. But ever heard of Kevin Love?
I’m here, been here, will continue to be here. You’re the one passing through.
Love was a trade
Kinda like the Knicks are too?
Keep trolling Gary. He’s only an All NBA player. I guess that means he’s not a big name
You’re comfortable with the Celtics giving Kemba Walker a Max contract? Okay then I guess he’s a big name, for the Celtics.
Kemba is an amazing player and a great teammate. But I’m not sure how much he moves the needle on a team that wants to compete for a championship. It is hard to judge due to his rocky career in Charlotte.
If you think Rozier has had some things to say about the Celtics so far, I can’t wait to hear him after he’s off the team.
Yes it should be interesting. We will find out if he’s a starting point guard in this league very soon.
Sign n Trade Kemba for Hayward.
That would be best case scenario. That would allow them to fill another max slot. Vucevic. Maybe take on Capela Tucker and Gordon for the Rockets
I don’t know why the Hornets would do that though. They might as well pay Kemba if they’re gonna spend the money
Less years.
Assuming Hayward hasn’t / won’t find his way back to at least 90% of what he was pre-injury. That would be an ideal situation for the Cs