Veteran point guard Kemba Walker is receiving another shot in the NBA. According to The Athletic‘s Shams Charania, the four-time All-Star has agreed to a deal with the Dallas Mavericks.

The Mavs are expected to waive veteran guard Facundo Campazzo to make room for Walker. The move is expected to be made official in the coming days.

Mavs making a run for Walker makes sense since the team would use another ball handler and playmaker to take the pressure off their star Luka Doncic. However, Walker is far from a sure thing considering his struggles in recent years.

After emerging as a borderline superstar with the Charlotte Hornets, Kemba Walker joined the Boston Celtics on a max contract ahead of the 2019-20 NBA season. However, Walker never worked out in Boston, being a shadow of his old self and prompting the Celtics to dump his salary to the Oklahoma City Thunder after just two seasons.

Walker ended up being bought out by the Thunder and returned to his hometown of New York City, where he joined the Knicks. But instead of a career resurgence like he hoped for, Walker had another disappointing campaign. After averaging 11.6 points in 37 games last season, the 32-year-old was traded to the Detroit Pistons, who swiftly released him.

It remains to be seen whether Walker still has something left in the gas tank to contribute to the Mavs. Dallas would use any help they can get now, considering they are 9-10 to start the 2022-23 campaign.

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Kemba Walker’s New York homecoming has come to an end after just one season. The Knicks traded Walker to the Detroit Pistons on the night of the 2022 NBA Draft in a three-team trade that also included the Charlotte Hornets.

The trade was set in motion after the Knicks selected Ousmane Dieng with the No. 11 overall pick. They first sent Dieng to Oklahoma City Thunder for three future conditional first-rounders. Next, the New York team took one of those picks, which comes via the Denver Nuggets, and packaged it with four second-round selections to acquire Memphis’ center Jalen Duren, taken No. 13 overall, from the Charlotte Hornets. Finally, the Knicks shipped Duren and Walker to Detroit in exchange for top-four protected 2025 first-round pick via Milwaukee Bucks.

Walker signed with the Knicks back in August after agreeing to a contract buyout with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The four-time All-Star was expected to be a game-changer for the Knicks and help the franchise make a step forward in the playoffs. However, things turned south pretty quickly.

The 32-year-old mightily struggled in New York and was out of the rotation less than two months into the season. Walker returned after 10 games due to Knicks’ injury issues but only lasted until February before the two sides agreed he wouldn’t be part of the roster moving forward. He played 37 games in 2021-22 in total, averaging 11.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. All were career-lows for the UConn product.

Reportedly, Walker isn’t expected to suit up for the Pistons. So instead, the most likely route is a contract buyout that would let the veteran hit free agency and find another landing spot.

The post Knicks Send Kemba Walker to Pistons in a 3-Team Trade appeared first on SportzBonanza.

New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau has made a rather surprising decision in attempts to get his team back on track. Speaking with reporters earlier this week, Thibodeau confirmed that All-Star guard Kemba Walker won’t be part of the Knicks’ rotation moving forward.

Walker had a promising start of 2021-22, but his numbers have significantly dropped as the season progressed. He particularly struggled with shooting in November, prompting Thibodeau to limit his minutes on the floor. When this didn’t help, Thibodeau opted to try an even more drastic approach.

“It’s a tough decision to make, but you always have to do what you think is best for the team,” Thibodeau said about the decision. “I view Kemba as a starter, and so it’d be tough to play three small guards together. I gave it consideration, and I’ve got great respect for who Kemba is as a person and all he’s accomplished in this league.”

With Walker out of the rotation, the Knicks will rely on journeyman Alec Burks as their starting point guard. They have veteran Derrick Rose as a backup.

Kemba Walker signed a two-year, $20 million deal with the Knicks after being waived by the Oklahoma City Thunder in early August. It was a chance for Walker to start fresh with his hometown team, but things are not looking well at the moment. Before being removed from the rotation, the 31-year-old was averaging career-lows in points (11.7), rebounds (2.6), and assists (3.1).

Meanwhile, the Knicks find themselves barely holding onto a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. They are seventh with an 11-9 record and sit just half a game in front of the Philadelphia 76ers, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Atlanta Hawks, and the Boston Celtics.

The post All-Star Guard Kemba Walker Removed From Knicks’ Rotation 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.

There’s nothing quite like a showdown between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics, no matter what time of the year it is.

And boy what a show it was, with the victory being decided on the very last second of the game.

The Lakers were leading by one point with 11.6 seconds left to go, and they were thankful to have the ball in their hands as well. Unfortunately, Celtics star guard Kemba Walker stripped it from Laker forward Anthony Davis and attempted to throw a pass to teammate Jaylen Brown, who was near the basket.

Meanwhile, Laker youngster Alex Caruso was hustling down the court and stopped the pass from Walker. Boston still managed to retain possession, but the only shot they could get was a difficult one by Walker which didn’t go in, giving the Lakers the victory.

Not only did the Laker stars thrive in this victory, but their younger bench players stood out as well, most notably Caruso, Kyle Kuzma, and Talen Horton-Tucker.

Laker coach Frank Vogel spoke of their impact after the game: “Yeah, I liked the energy that they had. I mean, Alex and Kuz and Talen and really Trez, all four of those guys are hard-playing dudes.”

Caruso’s final defensive play, in particular, helped seal the victory for the Lakers, and if anyone wasn’t a “Carushow” believer before, they should be now.

The post Lakers Beat Longtime Rival Celtics by One in Nailbiter 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.

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.

Dallas Mavericks’ future seems really bright. They not only have two of the most exciting young stars in the league in Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis but can also get one max free agent in the summer of 2019. And as it turns out, Mavs already know who they want to get to pair with Doncic and Porzingis.

According to New York Times‘ Marc Stein, Dallas plans to pursue Charlotte Hornets’ All-Star point guard Kemba Walker and Milwaukee Bucks’ All-Star small forward Khris Middleton.

“Shooters, athleticism and veterans are said to be Dallas’ priorities to supply the budding star tandem of Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis with some been-there wisdom.” – says Stein in his weekly newsletter. “But league sources say that the Mavericks intend to fling themselves into the chase for Khris Middleton and/or Kemba Walker with gusto in hopes that they have a shot at one of them.”

Despite the cap space and great situation, Mavericks might face an uphill battle to get either Walker or Middleton.

Walker is a face of the franchise in Charlotte and Hornets can offer him more money than any other team. On the other hand, if he was to leave, the 28-year-old would have lots of other suitors that might be in a better situation to win right now than Dallas.

Middleton, on the other hand, is in a great situation with the Bucks as he is part of the team that is already a title contender. The only way that he might think of leaving is if Milwaukee isn’t willing to give him a max deal.

Stein previously reported that Mavericks are interested in Orlando Magic’s All-Star Nikola Vucevic, but now states that Walker and Middleton would be their preferred targets as they are a better fit with team’s young stars. Another player who is rumored to be on Dallas’ radar is Philadelphia 76ers’ Tobias Harris, who would also be a great fit with Doncic and Porzingis thanks to his shooting.

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Veteran point guard Kemba Walker is receiving another shot in the NBA. According to The Athletic‘s Shams Charania, the four-time All-Star has agreed to a deal with the Dallas Mavericks.

The Mavs are expected to waive veteran guard Facundo Campazzo to make room for Walker. The move is expected to be made official in the coming days.

Mavs making a run for Walker makes sense since the team would use another ball handler and playmaker to take the pressure off their star Luka Doncic. However, Walker is far from a sure thing considering his struggles in recent years.

After emerging as a borderline superstar with the Charlotte Hornets, Kemba Walker joined the Boston Celtics on a max contract ahead of the 2019-20 NBA season. However, Walker never worked out in Boston, being a shadow of his old self and prompting the Celtics to dump his salary to the Oklahoma City Thunder after just two seasons.

Walker ended up being bought out by the Thunder and returned to his hometown of New York City, where he joined the Knicks. But instead of a career resurgence like he hoped for, Walker had another disappointing campaign. After averaging 11.6 points in 37 games last season, the 32-year-old was traded to the Detroit Pistons, who swiftly released him.

It remains to be seen whether Walker still has something left in the gas tank to contribute to the Mavs. Dallas would use any help they can get now, considering they are 9-10 to start the 2022-23 campaign.

The post 4-Time All-Star Kemba Walker Agrees to a Deal With Dallas Mavericks appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Kemba Walker’s New York homecoming has come to an end after just one season. The Knicks traded Walker to the Detroit Pistons on the night of the 2022 NBA Draft in a three-team trade that also included the Charlotte Hornets.

The trade was set in motion after the Knicks selected Ousmane Dieng with the No. 11 overall pick. They first sent Dieng to Oklahoma City Thunder for three future conditional first-rounders. Next, the New York team took one of those picks, which comes via the Denver Nuggets, and packaged it with four second-round selections to acquire Memphis’ center Jalen Duren, taken No. 13 overall, from the Charlotte Hornets. Finally, the Knicks shipped Duren and Walker to Detroit in exchange for top-four protected 2025 first-round pick via Milwaukee Bucks.

Walker signed with the Knicks back in August after agreeing to a contract buyout with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The four-time All-Star was expected to be a game-changer for the Knicks and help the franchise make a step forward in the playoffs. However, things turned south pretty quickly.

The 32-year-old mightily struggled in New York and was out of the rotation less than two months into the season. Walker returned after 10 games due to Knicks’ injury issues but only lasted until February before the two sides agreed he wouldn’t be part of the roster moving forward. He played 37 games in 2021-22 in total, averaging 11.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. All were career-lows for the UConn product.

Reportedly, Walker isn’t expected to suit up for the Pistons. So instead, the most likely route is a contract buyout that would let the veteran hit free agency and find another landing spot.

The post Knicks Send Kemba Walker to Pistons in a 3-Team Trade appeared first on SportzBonanza.

New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau has made a rather surprising decision in attempts to get his team back on track. Speaking with reporters earlier this week, Thibodeau confirmed that All-Star guard Kemba Walker won’t be part of the Knicks’ rotation moving forward.

Walker had a promising start of 2021-22, but his numbers have significantly dropped as the season progressed. He particularly struggled with shooting in November, prompting Thibodeau to limit his minutes on the floor. When this didn’t help, Thibodeau opted to try an even more drastic approach.

“It’s a tough decision to make, but you always have to do what you think is best for the team,” Thibodeau said about the decision. “I view Kemba as a starter, and so it’d be tough to play three small guards together. I gave it consideration, and I’ve got great respect for who Kemba is as a person and all he’s accomplished in this league.”

With Walker out of the rotation, the Knicks will rely on journeyman Alec Burks as their starting point guard. They have veteran Derrick Rose as a backup.

Kemba Walker signed a two-year, $20 million deal with the Knicks after being waived by the Oklahoma City Thunder in early August. It was a chance for Walker to start fresh with his hometown team, but things are not looking well at the moment. Before being removed from the rotation, the 31-year-old was averaging career-lows in points (11.7), rebounds (2.6), and assists (3.1).

Meanwhile, the Knicks find themselves barely holding onto a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. They are seventh with an 11-9 record and sit just half a game in front of the Philadelphia 76ers, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Atlanta Hawks, and the Boston Celtics.

The post All-Star Guard Kemba Walker Removed From Knicks’ Rotation 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.

There’s nothing quite like a showdown between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics, no matter what time of the year it is.

And boy what a show it was, with the victory being decided on the very last second of the game.

The Lakers were leading by one point with 11.6 seconds left to go, and they were thankful to have the ball in their hands as well. Unfortunately, Celtics star guard Kemba Walker stripped it from Laker forward Anthony Davis and attempted to throw a pass to teammate Jaylen Brown, who was near the basket.

Meanwhile, Laker youngster Alex Caruso was hustling down the court and stopped the pass from Walker. Boston still managed to retain possession, but the only shot they could get was a difficult one by Walker which didn’t go in, giving the Lakers the victory.

Not only did the Laker stars thrive in this victory, but their younger bench players stood out as well, most notably Caruso, Kyle Kuzma, and Talen Horton-Tucker.

Laker coach Frank Vogel spoke of their impact after the game: “Yeah, I liked the energy that they had. I mean, Alex and Kuz and Talen and really Trez, all four of those guys are hard-playing dudes.”

Caruso’s final defensive play, in particular, helped seal the victory for the Lakers, and if anyone wasn’t a “Carushow” believer before, they should be now.

The post Lakers Beat Longtime Rival Celtics by One in Nailbiter 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.

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.

Dallas Mavericks’ future seems really bright. They not only have two of the most exciting young stars in the league in Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis but can also get one max free agent in the summer of 2019. And as it turns out, Mavs already know who they want to get to pair with Doncic and Porzingis.

According to New York Times‘ Marc Stein, Dallas plans to pursue Charlotte Hornets’ All-Star point guard Kemba Walker and Milwaukee Bucks’ All-Star small forward Khris Middleton.

“Shooters, athleticism and veterans are said to be Dallas’ priorities to supply the budding star tandem of Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis with some been-there wisdom.” – says Stein in his weekly newsletter. “But league sources say that the Mavericks intend to fling themselves into the chase for Khris Middleton and/or Kemba Walker with gusto in hopes that they have a shot at one of them.”

Despite the cap space and great situation, Mavericks might face an uphill battle to get either Walker or Middleton.

Walker is a face of the franchise in Charlotte and Hornets can offer him more money than any other team. On the other hand, if he was to leave, the 28-year-old would have lots of other suitors that might be in a better situation to win right now than Dallas.

Middleton, on the other hand, is in a great situation with the Bucks as he is part of the team that is already a title contender. The only way that he might think of leaving is if Milwaukee isn’t willing to give him a max deal.

Stein previously reported that Mavericks are interested in Orlando Magic’s All-Star Nikola Vucevic, but now states that Walker and Middleton would be their preferred targets as they are a better fit with team’s young stars. Another player who is rumored to be on Dallas’ radar is Philadelphia 76ers’ Tobias Harris, who would also be a great fit with Doncic and Porzingis thanks to his shooting.

The post Mavs to Pursue Kemba Walker and Khris Middleton in Free Agency appeared first on SportzBonanza.