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

[Fafnir]

It could easily be both - Kemba will take the supermax money, might take something in the range below the supermax but more than any other team can offer, but if it's not there would prefer Boston. Which is fine and fits both parties' interests well.

If Stephen A Smith's information is correct and Charlotte latest offer was 5 years 160 million I don't see them going hard to keep him.

Similar to the Hawks with Horford, you don't offer a worse deal than the 4 year max other teams can offer to your big FA and expect them to stay.

[PhoSita]

Apologies if someone brought this up already (haven't read through the last few pages) but Chuck McKenney at Red's Army posted his opinion today that he thinks the recent news that Kemba is leaning towards Boston may be posturing by his agent to get Charlotte to up their offer.

https://thesportsdaily.com/2019/06/27/be-wary-of-reports-stating-celtics-a-strong-front-runner-for-kemba-walker-r1a1/

Make no mistake about it, Kemba Walker’s agent is the source for this report and he’s working hard to exert pressure on Charlotte owner Michael Jordan. This is Posturing 101.

If there’s truly a chasm between Charlotte’s offer and what Kemba desires, why on earth didn’t Jordan trade Walker at the deadline? This is just terrible personnel management.

This is why I’m hesitant to assume Walker is signing with Boston. Something doesn’t add up.

Michael Jordan is bad at his job?

Jordan is TERRIBLE at his job, and it wouldn't surprise me in the least to learn that he botched yet another personnel move.

The Hornets probably still hoped to make the playoffs, however slim a chance that was as of the trade deadline.

Charlotte is so cheap, they would definitely rather make the playoffs and get swept than collect whatever future assets they might have gotten for Kemba.


On top of that, the optics of your franchise player leaving you for a bigger market are better than trading your franchise player (easily the best player in the history of that franchise -- not counting the former Charlotte Hornets who are now the Pelicans).

[cltc5]

No posturing he's most likely comin to Boston.  I'm glad rosier will be gone.  I wonder if they're gonna tell kyrie or wait till he gets back from Japan 

[Silky]

Apologies if someone brought this up already (haven't read through the last few pages) but Chuck McKenney at Red's Army posted his opinion today that he thinks the recent news that Kemba is leaning towards Boston may be posturing by his agent to get Charlotte to up their offer.

https://thesportsdaily.com/2019/06/27/be-wary-of-reports-stating-celtics-a-strong-front-runner-for-kemba-walker-r1a1/

Make no mistake about it, Kemba Walker’s agent is the source for this report and he’s working hard to exert pressure on Charlotte owner Michael Jordan. This is Posturing 101.

If there’s truly a chasm between Charlotte’s offer and what Kemba desires, why on earth didn’t Jordan trade Walker at the deadline? This is just terrible personnel management.

This is why I’m hesitant to assume Walker is signing with Boston. Something doesn’t add up.

Michael Jordan is bad at his job?

Jordan is TERRIBLE at his job, and it wouldn't surprise me in the least to learn that he botched yet another personnel move.

He will be desparate for something should kemba agree to sign here.

He will pursue a sign and trade without doubt.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

Im ecstatic to let Kyrie walk and bring in Kemba, but man, I think some of us underestimate the loss of Horford.

Forget the passing and the 3pt shooting.  He gives Joel Embiid fits when we play them.  Embiid still gets his but he makes him very uncomfortable.  So did Baynes.  Phillys had a hard time with us over the past couple years and things are gonna get easier for them.

Al was no slouch against Giannis too.

I think defensively, the best guy mentioned to potentially replace what Horford provided is Myles Turner.

I'll be sick if we lose Al! Ffs!

[liam]

No posturing he's most likely comin to Boston.  I'm glad rosier will be gone.  I wonder if they're gonna tell kyrie or wait till he gets back from Japan 

Who?

[PhoSita]

I want to say that it's been really cool as a Celts fan that since 2014, there has not been a year when they didn't have an exciting scorer at the point of attack (not counting the first part of the 2015 season before they got IT).

I can still remember how I felt in the Rondo days, constantly wishing the Celts had somebody handling the ball who was capable of pressuring the opposing defense with scoring rather than just hunting for assists.


Obviously this Kemba thing isn't officially yet but it sounds pretty close to that.


I hope that if Kemba is indeed coming here on a four year deal that he actually gets to play the full four years and not have injuries or trades get in the way of that.  The last two guys to hold that position had other stuff get in the way.


I would really like some consistency in terms of the "main characters" of the team.  Been a while since we had more than a year or two in a row where the core of the team remained the same.

[greece66]

Seems like a very reasonable move that allows to stay relevant while the young players mature.

[hpantazo]

If we do land Kemba and get a decent center, I think people are going to be very surprised at how much better the Celtics will be than last season.

[Donoghus]

If we do land Kemba and get a decent center, I think people are going to be very surprised at how much better the Celtics will be than last season.

It'd certainly change my expectations big time.  I have been in the "decent step backwards" camp ever since it became apparent that Kyrie wasn't coming back.

[fairweatherfan]

It could easily be both - Kemba will take the supermax money, might take something in the range below the supermax but more than any other team can offer, but if it's not there would prefer Boston. Which is fine and fits both parties' interests well.

If Stephen A Smith's information is correct and Charlotte latest offer was 5 years 160 million I don't see them going hard to keep him.

Similar to the Hawks with Horford, you don't offer a worse deal than the 4 year max other teams can offer to your big FA and expect them to stay.

Yeah, I feel pretty good about Charlotte not doing that, just saying it's logical that one reason these leaks have such certainty behind them is that they're coming directly from his reps and are at least in part intended to see if they can draw out a better offer.

[tazzmaniac]

If we do land Kemba and get a decent center, I think people are going to be very surprised at how much better the Celtics will be than last season.

Assuming the Bucks, Raptors and Sixers bring back their teams from this season, I don't see Kemba and a decent center making the Cs better.  Maybe the regular season will be better but I think reality will hit in the playoffs.  The Utah Hayward really needs to return or at least one of the Jays need to step up a lot to actually make the C's better.   

[dreamgreen]

Im ecstatic to let Kyrie walk and bring in Kemba, but man, I think some of us underestimate the loss of Horford.

Forget the passing and the 3pt shooting.  He gives Joel Embiid fits when we play them.  Embiid still gets his but he makes him very uncomfortable.  So did Baynes.  Phillys had a hard time with us over the past couple years and things are gonna get easier for them.

Al was no slouch against Giannis too.

I think defensively, the best guy mentioned to potentially replace what Horford provided is Myles Turner.

I'll be sick if we lose Al! Ffs!

We have no front court! Al is gone and probably no Morris, no Baynes. It makes me worried I've seen Danny ignore the front court to many times over the years!

[Muzzy66]

If we do land Kemba and get a decent center, I think people are going to be very surprised at how much better the Celtics will be than last season.

Assuming the Bucks, Raptors and Sixers bring back their teams from this season, I don't see Kemba and a decent center making the Cs better.  Maybe the regular season will be better but I think reality will hit in the playoffs.  The Utah Hayward really needs to return or at least one of the Jays need to step up a lot to actually make the C's better.

I'm not so sure.

Im pretty confident Hayward will be a LOT better then he was last year,  as he was showing consistent signs of progress and having a full training camp will only help.

I also feel train and brown around both improve to some degree.

But the problem last season was never lack of talent.   Man for man our roster was as good as any in the league bar GS.   What killed us was that lack of chemistry.

With Kemba i feel we bring back 90% of kyries game without the locker room drama, and i think that alone makes the team much,  much better.   

As far as center spot goes,  there are things Boston could do if need be.   Smart and Yabusele are worth about $14m combined for example,  and Boston has a ton of picks.   If really desperate the Celtics likely could package those guys for a starting calibre big man and then use the exception to sign a backup PG.

There's also the unlikely option if trading Hayward.   If Houston really eems butler to push for a sign and trade,  but need a third team to jump in... could Boston be that team?  Wpuld Philly  be interered in taking back hayward, while houston takes Butler, and Boston takes Capella and pieces?

[CelticSooner]

#TeamKemba