All-Star Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Hornets have sizable gaps and stalemate in talks so far, opening pathway for competitors in Boston, New York and Dallas, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium
—Shams
—Shams
Why hasn't he said what? He HAS said all these things but we are approaching signing period and Charlotte hasn't yet made an offer to my knowledge. He isn't going to say he isn't interested in any place without the Hornets putting anything on the table. There is no need for him to say anything else right now.Why hasn't he said as much then? Why allow speculation?
This is what I'd expect at this stage. Jordan knows Kemba's preference is Charlotte so why offer anything more than your competition at this point unless you are confident that Kemba would take less somewhere else.......after he's already said he'd take a discount to remain in Charlotte. The mistake Kemba made was talking too much in the first place which is why his agents have probably instructed him to zip it up.All-Star Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Hornets have sizable gaps and stalemate in talks so far, opening pathway for competitors in Boston, New York and Dallas, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium
—Shams
Negotiating through the media, and he probably still ends up in Charlotte, but it would be rad if he comes here. I know he isn't ideal, but you can't pass up an allstar in his prime.All-Star Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Hornets have sizable gaps and stalemate in talks so far, opening pathway for competitors in Boston, New York and Dallas, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium
—Shams
I love this move, if it happens. You essentially get about 90% of Kyrie's production with 0% of the drama and headache. Kemba is a coaches dream as a player and my guess is that he will bring out the best in Tatum as a teammate and a leader.Woj bomb
The Boston Celtics have emerged as the frontrunner to sign Charlotte All-Star guard Kemba Walker once free agency opens Sunday at 6 PM ET, league sources tell ESPN.
The problem is that you lose Horford, but I can see ways this could work.I love this move, if it happens. You essentially get about 90% of Kyrie's production with 0% of the drama and headache. Kemba is a coaches dream as a player and my guess is that he will bring out the best in Tatum as a teammate and a leader.
That is a bomb and I’d love this the way things are shaking out. I’m still not believing Jordan would allow Kemba to walk for nothing after not moving him over the last 24 months.Woj bomb
The Boston Celtics have emerged as the frontrunner to sign Charlotte All-Star guard Kemba Walker once free agency opens Sunday at 6 PM ET, league sources tell ESPN.
That is a bomb and I’d love this the way things are shaking out. I’m still not believing Jordan would allow Kemba to walk for nothing after not moving him over the last 24 months.
Right now on@GetUpESPN,@wojespn is breaking it down: "Boston and Kemba Walker are focused on each other and there is a very strong possibility that Kemba Walker will replace Kyrie Irving..."
t’s weird to me how nobody thought Kyrie was a bad fit two years ago, but someone who is like 90% his production with zero drama is a bad fit
Look at his tweets from draft night. They all say something like: "The Celtics are focused on Grant Williams with their next pick."“Focused on each other” is pretty strong Woj language, no? Isn’t that his code for “the deal
is done but I can’t say it until July 1st”?
Agree this is worth its own thread. Brought a bunch of related posts over from the cap-room thread.This might be worth a break out thread now.
https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1144227344892272647
The Boston Celtics have emerged as the frontrunner to sign Charlotte All-Star guard Kemba Walker once free agency opens Sunday at 6 PM ET, league sources tell ESPN.
Then, on ESPN he used his draft night word of "focused" when talking about this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuuSH-Uku3s
EDIT: And yes, this *could* be a negotiating tactic with Charlotte.
It makes the most sense if they then have something like Brown for Turner lined up, but we’ll see.Do we think this is followed up by a Jaylen Brown trade?
We'll have that exception to use ($4.3 million?) to sign someone right?
Why would Charlotte supermax him out when they have so many other problems with their roster cap wise? They need to let Kemba go and trade off as many bad contracts as they can to start over.This might be worth a break out thread now.
https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1144227344892272647
The Boston Celtics have emerged as the frontrunner to sign Charlotte All-Star guard Kemba Walker once free agency opens Sunday at 6 PM ET, league sources tell ESPN.
Then, on ESPN he used his draft night word of "focused" when talking about this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuuSH-Uku3s
EDIT: And yes, this *could* be a negotiating tactic with Charlotte.
This is exactly correct. The issue the Hornets have is that because they did not make a contract offer prior to free agency (presumably), it did give Kemba and his agent to start gauging the market. Once they start doing that, Walker is now exposed to all the advantages that some of those other destinations have to offer in terms of team composition, etc....
This is what I'd expect at this stage. Jordan knows Kemba's preference is Charlotte so why offer anything more than your competition at this point unless you are confident that Kemba would take less somewhere else.......after he's already said he'd take a discount to remain in Charlotte. The mistake Kemba made was talking too much in the first place which is why his agents have probably instructed him to zip it up.
They have the room exception which is between 4 and 5 million.If we sign Kemba and don’t trade anyone away do we have the MLE or can we only sign folks to the minimum?
A lot of this is optics. If the Celtics had not lost Kyrie and Al, then a team with Hayward and the 3 young guys of Smart, Brown, and Tatum would be this interesting young team on the cusp that owns a potential lottery pick in 1 of next 2 seasons from another team expected to be really bad. But almost no one sees it that way.And regardless of what people say, Brown/Tatum/Hayward/Smart is a much better supporting cast than what he would have in Charlotte.
They have the room exception which is between 4 and 5 million.
Also, signing Walker to the Supermax would launch the Hornets into the luxury tax. Probably not where a .500 team wants to be. They would be stuck in NBA Hell.Why would Charlotte supermax him out when they have so many other problems with their roster cap wise? They need to let Kemba go and trade off as many bad contracts as they can to start over.
You have to renounce Al’s Bird rights to make room for Kemba, so no.Little nervous this is out there now so early but I'd be happy with 90% of Kyrie with 0 drama - I think his personality fits with the young guys much better - maybe even convince Al to come back on a smaller deal (thats possible right?).
Uh, that's not what the article said. It said they'll be OFFERING him that contract, and it said he's "increasingly likely to accept". The first part may be factual, but the second part is speculation. Both are a far cry from "Kemba WILL be signing with the Celtics". Though I'd love for you to be right!Looks like Kemba WILL be signing with the Celtics according to the story just posted by Woj. 4 years, $141 million.
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/27066586/sources-celtics-front-runners-sign-kemba
He's translating Woj speak.Uh, that's not what the article said. It said they'll be OFFERING him that contract, and it said he's "increasingly likely to accept". The first part may be factual, but the second part is speculation. Both are a far cry from "Kemba WILL be signing with the Celtics". Though I'd love for you to be right!
Better than Isaiah all the time. Similar to Kyrie most of the time as he gives consistent effort......I'm guessing slightly worse than Kyrie when game is on the line and/or playoff intensity.how's his defense?
Charlotte has several large expiring contracts that can surely be moved prior to the final day of luxury tax calculations. This shouldn't play much of a factor when looking to re-sign your best player.Also, signing Walker to the Supermax would launch the Hornets into the luxury tax. Probably not where a .500 team wants to be. They would be stuck in NBA Hell.
What is the earlier date when Baynes can return to Boston? Almost feels like a wink-wink deal for Phoenix to acquire an extra 2nd rounder down the road.I would think they could get a serviceable big for that. No rush to trade Brown unless that individual transaction is a win.
What about Romeo and Hayward for Turner?It makes the most sense if they then have something like Brown for Turner lined up, but we’ll see.
Indy hangs up quickly. They would want Brown’s upside/timeline at a position of need.What about Romeo and Hayward for Turner?
Sounds about right to me. You also get the benefit that the other guys are more likely to play 2017-2018 defense, and not whatever the hell was going on last year.Better than Isaiah all the time. Similar to Kyrie most of the time as he gives consistent effort......I'm guessing slightly worse than Kyrie when game is on the line and/or playoff intensity.
I think that they’d also like the return of a hometown hero. Plus as a complete non-FA destination they’d also like some help for Oladipo. I suspect Indiana’s is going to be a lot closer to Orlando’s during the Fultz trade, even if Hayward only ever returns to 90% of the player he was in Utah, that’s still better than the Pacers are generally going to do on the free agency market, and 90% of Hayward is a good running mate for their current star.Indy hangs up quickly. They would want Brown’s upside/timeline at a position of need.
I would be ecstatic if you’re right.I think that they’d also like the return of a hometown hero. Plus as a complete non-FA destination they’d also like some help for Oladipo. I suspect Indiana’s is going to be a lot closer to Orlando’s during the Fultz trade, even if Hayward only ever returns to 90% of the player he was in Utah, that’s still better than the Pacers are generally going to do on the free agency market, and 90% of Hayward is a good running mate for their current star.
They have two (MKG and Wiliams). Zeller and Batum are signed for another year. They have $97m committed without Kemba and probably no-one good enough to be the fourth starter on a Championship team except him. Even if they can duck the luxury tax, they'd be committed to spending beyond the cap in a small market on a team with no prospect of being higher than a sixth seed - but with Kemba raising their floor to about sixth-worst. If Kemba walks they're probably the worst team in the NBA. Perhaps they can avoid the tax, but they'd still be in NBA purgatory.Charlotte has several large expiring contracts that can surely be moved prior to the final day of luxury tax calculations. This shouldn't play much of a factor when looking to re-sign your best player.