According to multiple reports, the Boston Celtics are trading All-Star point guard Kemba Walker to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The trade comes two years after the organization signed Walker to a $141 million max contract in free agency.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that besides Walker, the Celtics are also sending their 16th pick in the 2021 NBA draft and a 2025 second-rounder to OKC. In exchange, Boston will receive veteran forward Al Horford, undrafted Moses Brown, and a second-round pick in 2023.

Walker was one of the most sought-after free agents in 2019, having made an All-Star team in three previous seasons with the Charlotte Hornets. The Celtics brought him in believing he could be the franchise’s next star, but things didn’t exactly work out that way.

While Walker had some good runs in Boston, he struggled to emerge as a leader and dealt with various injuries that kept him off the court for prolonged periods of time. He only played 43 regular-season games in 2020-21 while also having a limited impact in the postseason.

Trading Walker is the first move that former Celtics head coach and now president of basketball operations Brad Stevens has made in his new role. While surprising, the deal will give Boston a great deal of financial flexibility to build around their young talents Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. It also brings back fan-favorite Horford, who could resume his role as a veteran leader in the locker room.

The Oklahoma City Thunder, on the other hand, continue to fill their chest of draft picks. They will now have three first-rounders in 2021 alone, owning selections from the Miami Heat, the Celtics, and their own. Altogether, OKC has 18 first-round picks in the next seven drafts.

The move to Oklahoma City might not be a bad one for Kemba Walker, as he will get to play a prominent role without the burden of expectations. The Thunder might resurrect his career in the same way they did with some other veterans like Chris Paul.

Walker is set to play his 11th season in the NBA in 2021-22. His career averages include 19.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game.

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Boston Celtics’ All-Star guard Kemba Walker decided to shoulder the blame for the Game 1 loss to Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday night. According to Walker, he is playing “terrible” basketball and needs to get better in order to give his team a chance to win.

Walker finished the 117-114 overtime loss with 19 points, six assists, and three rebounds. However, the 30-year-old had a terrible shooting night and made just one three in nine attempts.

“I’m just playing terrible, to be honest,” said Walker after the game. “Not much I can say, but I have to be better. I have to do better for this team on both ends of the floor. I have to make better decisions. I just have to make shots overall.”

Making shots came tough for Kemba Walker during these playoffs, but he especially struggled against Miami. Part of the issue was the physicality and perseverance that Heat players displayed while defending Walker, forcing him to either get rid of the ball or take tough and demanding shots.

If the Celtics are going to make a run for an NBA Finals appearance, their first since 2009/10, they need Kemba to be efficient and take his part of the offensive workload. And this is something that Boston’s head coach Brad Stevens plans to address.

“They’ve got great athletes out there,” said Stevens commenting Walker’s issues against Heat. “Some of the guards are able to keep in front with their length, and then Bam [Miami’s center Bam Adebayo] was switching a ton of pick-and-rolls all day. So we’re going to have to figure out, again, better ways to attack. Especially late.”

Boston and Miami will meet for Game 2 of the East Finals on Thursday night. 

The post Celtics’ Kemba Walker After Game 1 Loss: “I’m Just Playing Terrible” appeared first on SportzBonanza.

All-Star point guard Kemba Walker was one of the most prominent players that switched teams in free agency this year. Walker decided to leave Charlotte Hornets, where he spent all eight seasons of his NBA career, and sign with the Boston Celtics.

Although Walker previously stated that he made the move due to sports reasons, it turns out that some financial reasons played part in the decision as well. Talking with the Athletic on Wednesday, the 29-year-old player said that Hornets never came to him with an offer he expected.

“Tough days, I can’t even lie,” – said Walker when asked about leaving Charlotte. “It was difficult. I couldn’t see myself just being on another team. It was just hard. That’s all I’ve known was Charlotte. Definitely some tough times. I had a feeling that I wasn’t going to get the offer that I wanted, and maybe not close to it, because of cap space.”

Hornets were in the position to give Kemba Walker a super-max contract worth around $221 million this summer, but according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the team opted against making such offer. Charlotte reportedly went well below this number and was offering five-years, $160 million to the player. Walker instead decided to take four-years, $142 million deal from the Boston Celtics.

Walker averaged 25.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game last season en route to his third All-Star appearance and first All-NBA honors.

The post Kemba Walker on Hornets’ Exit: “I Wasn’t Going to Get the Offer That I Wanted” appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Charlotte Hornets’ All-Star guard Kemba Walker is one of the more interesting names in this year’s free agency. He is eligible to sign a super-max contract with the Hornets, but several other teams are expected to pursue his services come July. Out of all those teams, Boston Celtics have somehow emerged as favorites in Walker sweepstakes.

Celtics were not expected to play a significant role in this year’s free agency, but the imminent departure of Kyrie Irving and Al Horford opting out of his contract encouraged the team to free up some salary space and get in on the fun. After considering the available options, Boston decided to focus on Walker as they view him as a perfect replacement for Irving.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Hornets’ owner Michael Jordan is not willing to offer Kemba Walker a super-max, $221 million deal to keep him in Charlotte. His sources also reveal that Walker and his agent Jeff Schwartz plan to contact Celtics’ general manager Danny Ainge and see what the organization is willing to offer.

Boston is reportedly planning to present Walker with a four-year, $141 million contract, something the player is increasingly likely to say yes to.

It is important to note that in order to free up the $32.0 million in cap space needed to sign Walker, the Celtics will have to renounce the rights on Terry Rozier.

Walker is coming off a career-best season in which he averaged 25.6 points, 5.9 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game while making an All-Star appearance and receiving All-NBA Third Team.

The post Celtics Emerge as Favorites to Land Kemba Walker appeared first on SportzBonanza.

According to multiple reports, the Boston Celtics are trading All-Star point guard Kemba Walker to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The trade comes two years after the organization signed Walker to a $141 million max contract in free agency.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that besides Walker, the Celtics are also sending their 16th pick in the 2021 NBA draft and a 2025 second-rounder to OKC. In exchange, Boston will receive veteran forward Al Horford, undrafted Moses Brown, and a second-round pick in 2023.

Walker was one of the most sought-after free agents in 2019, having made an All-Star team in three previous seasons with the Charlotte Hornets. The Celtics brought him in believing he could be the franchise’s next star, but things didn’t exactly work out that way.

While Walker had some good runs in Boston, he struggled to emerge as a leader and dealt with various injuries that kept him off the court for prolonged periods of time. He only played 43 regular-season games in 2020-21 while also having a limited impact in the postseason.

Trading Walker is the first move that former Celtics head coach and now president of basketball operations Brad Stevens has made in his new role. While surprising, the deal will give Boston a great deal of financial flexibility to build around their young talents Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. It also brings back fan-favorite Horford, who could resume his role as a veteran leader in the locker room.

The Oklahoma City Thunder, on the other hand, continue to fill their chest of draft picks. They will now have three first-rounders in 2021 alone, owning selections from the Miami Heat, the Celtics, and their own. Altogether, OKC has 18 first-round picks in the next seven drafts.

The move to Oklahoma City might not be a bad one for Kemba Walker, as he will get to play a prominent role without the burden of expectations. The Thunder might resurrect his career in the same way they did with some other veterans like Chris Paul.

Walker is set to play his 11th season in the NBA in 2021-22. His career averages include 19.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game.

The post Celtics Trade All-Star Kemba Walker to OKC appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Boston Celtics’ All-Star guard Kemba Walker decided to shoulder the blame for the Game 1 loss to Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday night. According to Walker, he is playing “terrible” basketball and needs to get better in order to give his team a chance to win.

Walker finished the 117-114 overtime loss with 19 points, six assists, and three rebounds. However, the 30-year-old had a terrible shooting night and made just one three in nine attempts.

“I’m just playing terrible, to be honest,” said Walker after the game. “Not much I can say, but I have to be better. I have to do better for this team on both ends of the floor. I have to make better decisions. I just have to make shots overall.”

Making shots came tough for Kemba Walker during these playoffs, but he especially struggled against Miami. Part of the issue was the physicality and perseverance that Heat players displayed while defending Walker, forcing him to either get rid of the ball or take tough and demanding shots.

If the Celtics are going to make a run for an NBA Finals appearance, their first since 2009/10, they need Kemba to be efficient and take his part of the offensive workload. And this is something that Boston’s head coach Brad Stevens plans to address.

“They’ve got great athletes out there,” said Stevens commenting Walker’s issues against Heat. “Some of the guards are able to keep in front with their length, and then Bam [Miami’s center Bam Adebayo] was switching a ton of pick-and-rolls all day. So we’re going to have to figure out, again, better ways to attack. Especially late.”

Boston and Miami will meet for Game 2 of the East Finals on Thursday night. 

The post Celtics’ Kemba Walker After Game 1 Loss: “I’m Just Playing Terrible” appeared first on SportzBonanza.

All-Star point guard Kemba Walker was one of the most prominent players that switched teams in free agency this year. Walker decided to leave Charlotte Hornets, where he spent all eight seasons of his NBA career, and sign with the Boston Celtics.

Although Walker previously stated that he made the move due to sports reasons, it turns out that some financial reasons played part in the decision as well. Talking with the Athletic on Wednesday, the 29-year-old player said that Hornets never came to him with an offer he expected.

“Tough days, I can’t even lie,” – said Walker when asked about leaving Charlotte. “It was difficult. I couldn’t see myself just being on another team. It was just hard. That’s all I’ve known was Charlotte. Definitely some tough times. I had a feeling that I wasn’t going to get the offer that I wanted, and maybe not close to it, because of cap space.”

Hornets were in the position to give Kemba Walker a super-max contract worth around $221 million this summer, but according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the team opted against making such offer. Charlotte reportedly went well below this number and was offering five-years, $160 million to the player. Walker instead decided to take four-years, $142 million deal from the Boston Celtics.

Walker averaged 25.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game last season en route to his third All-Star appearance and first All-NBA honors.

The post Kemba Walker on Hornets’ Exit: “I Wasn’t Going to Get the Offer That I Wanted” appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Charlotte Hornets’ All-Star guard Kemba Walker is one of the more interesting names in this year’s free agency. He is eligible to sign a super-max contract with the Hornets, but several other teams are expected to pursue his services come July. Out of all those teams, Boston Celtics have somehow emerged as favorites in Walker sweepstakes.

Celtics were not expected to play a significant role in this year’s free agency, but the imminent departure of Kyrie Irving and Al Horford opting out of his contract encouraged the team to free up some salary space and get in on the fun. After considering the available options, Boston decided to focus on Walker as they view him as a perfect replacement for Irving.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Hornets’ owner Michael Jordan is not willing to offer Kemba Walker a super-max, $221 million deal to keep him in Charlotte. His sources also reveal that Walker and his agent Jeff Schwartz plan to contact Celtics’ general manager Danny Ainge and see what the organization is willing to offer.

Boston is reportedly planning to present Walker with a four-year, $141 million contract, something the player is increasingly likely to say yes to.

It is important to note that in order to free up the $32.0 million in cap space needed to sign Walker, the Celtics will have to renounce the rights on Terry Rozier.

Walker is coming off a career-best season in which he averaged 25.6 points, 5.9 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game while making an All-Star appearance and receiving All-NBA Third Team.

The post Celtics Emerge as Favorites to Land Kemba Walker appeared first on SportzBonanza.