Shams Charania: Kemba Walker plans to commit to a four-year, $141M maximum contract with the Boston Celtics after free agency opens on Sunday, league sources tell The Athletic."
NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic is reporting the Boston Celtics and unrestricted free agent point guard Kemba Walker have committed to a four-year, $141 million deal that will culminate Sunday when free agency officially begins at 6pm ET.
The 29-year-old, eight-year NBA veteran is coming off his best statistical season as a pro after averaging a career-high 25.6 points, but was one of the most bewildering free agents of the summer considering the Charlotte Hornets could have potentially offered Walker the league’s rare ‘Super Max’ deal if they had chosen to.
Walker has played in the last three All-Star games but the franchise had major doubts inking a guy to a five-year, $221 million contract who had only led the team to two postseasons in eight seasons, including six of those years with the team under .500.
The Celtics were seemingly on the outside looking in at the beginning of June for top free agents with a pestering sense of dissent from big-time players not wanting to play in Boston. Gordon Hayward has really been their only notable free agent catch the last decade.
However, Kyrie Irving’s rapid alienation with the team opened up the point guard position with a roster and coaching staff equipped to contend in the Eastern Conference, and Walker's arrival should keep the Celtics on-serve with the East's elites.