Kemba Walker (Kemba to formalize agreement on Sunday, pg 40)

[Phantom255x]

https://twitter.com/QCHspencer/status/1144377721591619585?s=20

  FWIW, spoke to source close to team that believes
@hornets could increase their offer from reported 5-year, $160M (might have already), but not optimistic it’d be enough to convince Kemba to pivot back in Charlotte’s direction. This thing is sounding like a done deal currently.

The absolute highest they could offer Kemba is 5/221M. So yeah, I was actually pretty amazed they only offered 5/160M (32M AAV instead of the 35M AAV he could be offered elsewhere).

I think if CHA is willing to give him 200M, he will stay even if it's like 20M short of the supermax.

[Kuberski33]

Walker played for Jim Calhoun in college who's an old school coach that demands that you play defense.  This alone makes him a better fit for the way Brad wants to play than Kyrie.

If you have Haywood and you're ready to commit max dollars to Walker, you're all in, because I wouldn't expect Kemba to want to be here without the promise of building a team that will contend for a title.  So expect another move - likely a major one - to get a quality big. 

My guess is at least one of Tatum, Brown and Smart won't be here by end of next week.

[MattyIce]

https://twitter.com/QCHspencer/status/1144377721591619585?s=20

  FWIW, spoke to source close to team that believes
@hornets could increase their offer from reported 5-year, $160M (might have already), but not optimistic it’d be enough to convince Kemba to pivot back in Charlotte’s direction. This thing is sounding like a done deal currently.

The absolute highest they could offer Kemba is 5/221M. So yeah, I was actually pretty amazed they only offered 5/160M (32M AAV instead of the 35M AAV he could be offered elsewhere).

I think if CHA is willing to give him 200M, he will stay even if it's like 20M short of the supermax.

take it for what it's worth 

https://twitter.com/QCHspencer/status/1144377721591619585

FWIW, spoke to source close to team that believes @hornets could increase their offer from reported 5-year, $160M (might have already), but not optimistic it’d be enough to convince Kemba to pivot back in Charlotte’s direction. This thing is sounding like a done deal currently.
 

[Phantom255x]

https://twitter.com/QCHspencer/status/1144377721591619585?s=20

  FWIW, spoke to source close to team that believes
@hornets could increase their offer from reported 5-year, $160M (might have already), but not optimistic it’d be enough to convince Kemba to pivot back in Charlotte’s direction. This thing is sounding like a done deal currently.

The absolute highest they could offer Kemba is 5/221M. So yeah, I was actually pretty amazed they only offered 5/160M (32M AAV instead of the 35M AAV he could be offered elsewhere).

I think if CHA is willing to give him 200M, he will stay even if it's like 20M short of the supermax.

take it for what it's worth 

https://twitter.com/QCHspencer/status/1144377721591619585

FWIW, spoke to source close to team that believes @hornets could increase their offer from reported 5-year, $160M (might have already), but not optimistic it’d be enough to convince Kemba to pivot back in Charlotte’s direction. This thing is sounding like a done deal currently.

Isn't that tweet what Jpotter already quoted and I responded to? 

[MattyIce]

https://twitter.com/QCHspencer/status/1144377721591619585?s=20

  FWIW, spoke to source close to team that believes
@hornets could increase their offer from reported 5-year, $160M (might have already), but not optimistic it’d be enough to convince Kemba to pivot back in Charlotte’s direction. This thing is sounding like a done deal currently.

The absolute highest they could offer Kemba is 5/221M. So yeah, I was actually pretty amazed they only offered 5/160M (32M AAV instead of the 35M AAV he could be offered elsewhere).

I think if CHA is willing to give him 200M, he will stay even if it's like 20M short of the supermax.

take it for what it's worth 

https://twitter.com/QCHspencer/status/1144377721591619585

FWIW, spoke to source close to team that believes @hornets could increase their offer from reported 5-year, $160M (might have already), but not optimistic it’d be enough to convince Kemba to pivot back in Charlotte’s direction. This thing is sounding like a done deal currently.

Isn't that tweet what Jpotter already quoted and I responded to? 

oops sorry i didnt notice...delete

[Phantom255x]

https://twitter.com/QCHspencer/status/1144377721591619585?s=20

  FWIW, spoke to source close to team that believes
@hornets could increase their offer from reported 5-year, $160M (might have already), but not optimistic it’d be enough to convince Kemba to pivot back in Charlotte’s direction. This thing is sounding like a done deal currently.

The absolute highest they could offer Kemba is 5/221M. So yeah, I was actually pretty amazed they only offered 5/160M (32M AAV instead of the 35M AAV he could be offered elsewhere).

I think if CHA is willing to give him 200M, he will stay even if it's like 20M short of the supermax.

take it for what it's worth 

https://twitter.com/QCHspencer/status/1144377721591619585

FWIW, spoke to source close to team that believes @hornets could increase their offer from reported 5-year, $160M (might have already), but not optimistic it’d be enough to convince Kemba to pivot back in Charlotte’s direction. This thing is sounding like a done deal currently.

Isn't that tweet what Jpotter already quoted and I responded to? 

oops sorry i didnt notice...delete

Haha it's fine. At first I was actually a bit excited myself thinking this was a new, recent tweet lol

[cman88]

I dont think the Hornets have any intention of resigning Kemba to a supermax contract that would cripple their team.

honestly really excited about this if it goes through. If we didn't lose horford I would be more excited. But after losing Kyrie Irving to replace him with a 3 time all-star who averaged 25ppg last year. its big. also big for the celtics reputation that they can still attract free agents.

hopefully danny can swing a trade for a big. But a team with Kemba/Brown/Tatum/Hayward(one year removed from recovery) should be fun.

[mmmmm]

If it is true that the Celtics have the inside track at signing Kemba Walker, it seems to me that this is a signal that the Celtics are going to trade Smart, probably for Capela or another big.  Even if we get Capela for Smart, we still need another big.  This would result in a line up as follows (potentially):

Kemba Walker
Jaylen Brown
Jason Tatum
TBD Big
Capela

Rozier
Hayward
Ojeleye
Williams

A lot depends on who the TBD Big ends up being and the prospects are not that great.  Maybe we resign Morris.  This isn't a terrible team but unless Brown and Tatum make a huge leap, not that exciting.

A couple of things:

First off, we'll have had to renounce rights to both Rozier and Morris in order to sign Kemba.   So neither of them will be back unless it is on dirt-cheap minimum contracts or the Room Exception.  Which means neither of them will be back.

Second of all, Hayward is most likely going to return to the starting lineup.   I expect you will see a return to a form of the 3-wing lineup that Brad tried to start last season with, which has all three of Jaylen, Gordon & Jayson in it.  Only replacing Kyrie & Al with Kemba + TBD.

TBD could indeed be Capela.  Or Turner.  Or Dedmon.  Or any of a zillion possible big men that have been discussed.

[tenn_smoothie]

Why are we doing this ? Do Danny and Brad not learn from their mistakes ?

I get that Kemba Walker is a much higher character guy than Irving was. I also get that he is team oriented. Great. The problem is his playing style, which was half of the problem with Kyrie. His style clashed with the rest of the team and Coach Steven's system. We do not need another ball-dominant point guard.

Instead, we need a playmaker to feed the strength of this team, our Big 3 Wings, J, J & Hayward. Rather than spending a huge amount of our available money one one player who clashes - on court only this time - with the rest of the team, spend our money on athletic post players who defend and rebound and a knock-down shooter off the bench. Celts are at their best with the players moving and the ball popping.

[Jiri Welsch]

Why are we doing this ? Do Danny and Brad not learn from their mistakes ?

I get that Kemba Walker is a much higher character guy than Irving was. I also get that he is team oriented. Great. The problem is his playing style, which was half of the problem with Kyrie. His style clashed with the rest of the team and Coach Steven's system. We do not need another ball-dominant point guard.

Instead, we need a playmaker to feed the strength of this team, our Big 3 Wings, J, J & Hayward. Rather than spending a huge amount of our available money one one player who clashes - on court only this time - with the rest of the team, spend our money on athletic post players who defend and rebound and a knock-down shooter off the bench. Celts are at their best with the players moving and the ball popping.

I assume Kemba’s style of play will also change somewhat, considering the amount of talent he has surrounding him.

This is the first time Kemba could likely afford to be a distributor and off-ball player for many possessions. I think Kemba wants to win first and foremost. He’s not going to throw a hissy fit if Brad asks him to get some others players involved throughout the first 3 1/2 quarters.

[Fafnir]

Why are we doing this ? Do Danny and Brad not learn from their mistakes ?

I get that Kemba Walker is a much higher character guy than Irving was. I also get that he is team oriented. Great. The problem is his playing style, which was half of the problem with Kyrie. His style clashed with the rest of the team and Coach Steven's system. We do not need another ball-dominant point guard.

Instead, we need a playmaker to feed the strength of this team, our Big 3 Wings, J, J & Hayward. Rather than spending a huge amount of our available money one one player who clashes - on court only this time - with the rest of the team, spend our money on athletic post players who defend and rebound and a knock-down shooter off the bench. Celts are at their best with the players moving and the ball popping.

Did IT4 not work well? Kemba is more similar to him than Kyrie in how he plays.

[cltc5]

Why are we doing this ? Do Danny and Brad not learn from their mistakes ?

I get that Kemba Walker is a much higher character guy than Irving was. I also get that he is team oriented. Great. The problem is his playing style, which was half of the problem with Kyrie. His style clashed with the rest of the team and Coach Steven's system. We do not need another ball-dominant point guard.

Instead, we need a playmaker to feed the strength of this team, our Big 3 Wings, J, J & Hayward. Rather than spending a huge amount of our available money one one player who clashes - on court only this time - with the rest of the team, spend our money on athletic post players who defend and rebound and a knock-down shooter off the bench. Celts are at their best with the players moving and the ball popping.

Did IT4 not work well? Kemba is more similar to him than Kyrie in how he plays.

And that’s the issue. IT4 worked great for IT4.  When we didn’t have guys that could score.  It’s still a problem to rely solely on your pg for the points.  This is a dumb move to get kemba all to get the bad taste out of our mouths.  Look if yo can’t handle a bunch of divas maybe it’s time to forget the culture and find a coach that knows how to work in the nba.

[Eddie20]

I don’t think people are fully grasping just how good Walker is off-the-ball. I think that Kyrie is the better 1 on 1 player (probably only Harden is better), but Walker is better in PNR, moving without the ball, and catch and shoots. I expect the Hayward (point forward) and Walker (scoring guard) combo to work in ways it wouldn’t with the more iso reliant Irving.

Here’s a piece by Kevin O’Conner on Walker:

It’s unfortunate that Walker hasn’t been surrounded by more high-level shot creators so that he could flaunt his skills off the ball more often. Over the past four seasons, Walker has shot an excellent 41.4 percent on spot-up 3s, per NBA.com/Stats. Almost two of every five of Walker’s 3s have come off the catch, which is a decent number for a primarily on-ball threat, but he’d be better off attempting fewer lower-efficiency isolations and increasing his off-ball chances. Walker’s ability to shoot off the catch and move without the ball is what makes him such an intriguing fit next to superior teammates, whether that’s in Charlotte or elsewhere.

[CelticSooner]

This is a must listen to as far as I'm concerned when it comes to Kemba:

https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/podcast/celticstalk

It sheds great light on the dumpster fire that is the Charlotte Hornets and what Kemba would bring to the green jersey. In the business of winning there is no downside to bringing him in I'll say that again and again.

[tenn_smoothie]

Why are we doing this ? Do Danny and Brad not learn from their mistakes ?

I get that Kemba Walker is a much higher character guy than Irving was. I also get that he is team oriented. Great. The problem is his playing style, which was half of the problem with Kyrie. His style clashed with the rest of the team and Coach Steven's system. We do not need another ball-dominant point guard.

Instead, we need a playmaker to feed the strength of this team, our Big 3 Wings, J, J & Hayward. Rather than spending a huge amount of our available money one one player who clashes - on court only this time - with the rest of the team, spend our money on athletic post players who defend and rebound and a knock-down shooter off the bench. Celts are at their best with the players moving and the ball popping.

Did IT4 not work well? Kemba is more similar to him than Kyrie in how he plays.

Yes, Thomas worked well - to a point. I would have loved to keep him as a 6th man on reasonable money, but we were not winning any titles with him as our main guy.