FILE PHOTO: Apr 7, 2019; Detroit, MI, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker (15) talks to his bench during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
The Boston Celtics are expected to make All-Star guard Kemba Walker a four-year, $141 million contract offer when free agency opens Sunday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported.
Walker, who spent his first eight seasons in the league with the Charlotte Hornets, is expected to accept the offer, Wojnarowski reported, citing league sources.
Just two weeks ago, Walker said he would take less than the five-year, $221 million “supermax” contract only the Hornets could offer him to stay in Charlotte.
Wojnarowski reported Thursday, however, that Hornets owner Michael Jordan no longer is “determined to extend far enough financially to re-sign his franchise player.”
In Boston, Walker would replace Kyrie Irving, who is expected to sign elsewhere, and bring veteran leadership to a team that suffered from dissension in the locker room in the 2018-19 season.
The 29-year-old Connecticut product averaged 25.6 points and 5.9 assists while starting all 82 games for the Hornets last season. Those numbers are above his eight-year career averages of 19.8 points and 5.5 assists.
Walker could anchor a starting lineup featuring Gordon Hayward, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.
—Field Level Media
