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.

Although several NBA teams are ready to make a big push for Kemba Walker, the 29-year-old guard is still focused on trying to find a way to remain with Charlotte Hornets.

As a matter of fact, Walker is so determined to succeed in Charlotte that he is willing to take less money from the Hornets if that would enable the team to create a competitive roster.

Walker recently discussed his upcoming free agency, and reiterated that Hornets remain his “first priority.”

“How can they not be?” – said Walker according to Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer. “I don’t understand how they can not be my first priority. I’ve been here eight years. They were the team that drafted me.”

Hornets can offer Kemba Walker a five-year deal worth $221 million, while other teams can sign him on a 4-year, $140 deal. When asked whether he would consider giving Charlotte a discount to help them put talent around him, Walker responded positively.

“Yeah, why not. I would be. I would take less, for sure,” – he said.

Walker had a great season in 2018/19 which saw him average 25.6 points, 5.9 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.2 steals. This earned him All-Star and All-NBA Third Team nods but also made teams around the league interested in his services this summer.  The list includes Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks.

The post Kemba Walker Willing to Take Less Money if Hornets Put Talent Around Him appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Charlotte Hornets are facing with a big possibility of losing their franchise star player Kemba Walker this summer. The 28-year-old is set to become an unrestricted free agent in June and he might easily decide to join another team where he would have a bigger chance to win a title or least make the playoffs. Still, Hornets are hoping to keep Walker with the team for years to come and will do “everything they can” to resign the three-time All-Star according to general manager Mitch Kupchak.

“I think this is a place that he wants to be, and we’ll do everything that we can to bring him back here,” – said Kupchak on Friday. “But he is half of the equation.”

While Walker repeatedly stated that he likes playing in Charlotte, he also said that he wants to win, something he was unable to do with the Hornets so far. Although he made the All-Star team in past three seasons, Hornets failed to reach the playoffs in each one of them due to team’s inability to surround their star player with quality pieces.

Since being drafted ninth overall by Charlotte in 2011, Kemba Walker established himself as one of the league’s premier point guards. He is coming off his best career season, having averaged career-high 25.6 points alongside 4.4 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game.

“There has not been a player with this franchise like Kemba Walker,” – Kupchak said of Walker. “He is a once-in-a-generation kind of a player and he is fun to watch. He is competitive, he is a good teammate. Those are all qualities that I like to see and I know that people in the organization and our fans like to see in players.”

The post Hornets Will Do “Everything They Can” to Re-Sign Kemba Walker, Says GM 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.

Although several NBA teams are ready to make a big push for Kemba Walker, the 29-year-old guard is still focused on trying to find a way to remain with Charlotte Hornets.

As a matter of fact, Walker is so determined to succeed in Charlotte that he is willing to take less money from the Hornets if that would enable the team to create a competitive roster.

Walker recently discussed his upcoming free agency, and reiterated that Hornets remain his “first priority.”

“How can they not be?” – said Walker according to Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer. “I don’t understand how they can not be my first priority. I’ve been here eight years. They were the team that drafted me.”

Hornets can offer Kemba Walker a five-year deal worth $221 million, while other teams can sign him on a 4-year, $140 deal. When asked whether he would consider giving Charlotte a discount to help them put talent around him, Walker responded positively.

“Yeah, why not. I would be. I would take less, for sure,” – he said.

Walker had a great season in 2018/19 which saw him average 25.6 points, 5.9 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.2 steals. This earned him All-Star and All-NBA Third Team nods but also made teams around the league interested in his services this summer.  The list includes Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks.

The post Kemba Walker Willing to Take Less Money if Hornets Put Talent Around Him appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Charlotte Hornets are facing with a big possibility of losing their franchise star player Kemba Walker this summer. The 28-year-old is set to become an unrestricted free agent in June and he might easily decide to join another team where he would have a bigger chance to win a title or least make the playoffs. Still, Hornets are hoping to keep Walker with the team for years to come and will do “everything they can” to resign the three-time All-Star according to general manager Mitch Kupchak.

“I think this is a place that he wants to be, and we’ll do everything that we can to bring him back here,” – said Kupchak on Friday. “But he is half of the equation.”

While Walker repeatedly stated that he likes playing in Charlotte, he also said that he wants to win, something he was unable to do with the Hornets so far. Although he made the All-Star team in past three seasons, Hornets failed to reach the playoffs in each one of them due to team’s inability to surround their star player with quality pieces.

Since being drafted ninth overall by Charlotte in 2011, Kemba Walker established himself as one of the league’s premier point guards. He is coming off his best career season, having averaged career-high 25.6 points alongside 4.4 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game.

“There has not been a player with this franchise like Kemba Walker,” – Kupchak said of Walker. “He is a once-in-a-generation kind of a player and he is fun to watch. He is competitive, he is a good teammate. Those are all qualities that I like to see and I know that people in the organization and our fans like to see in players.”

The post Hornets Will Do “Everything They Can” to Re-Sign Kemba Walker, Says GM appeared first on SportzBonanza.