NBA Rumors: Why Hornets Lost Kemba Walker To Celtics In Free Agency

Kemba Walker is enjoying his first day with the Boston Celtics on Wednesday because the Charlotte Hornets lacked commitment.

The now-Celtics point guard would have considered re-signing with Charlotte had the the Hornets added an extra year to their contract offer, Bleacher Report’s Ric Bucher reported Tuesday, citing NBA sources. Walker joined the Celtics earlier this month via a sign-and-trade deal after he agreed to a four-year, $141 million contract.

The move represented a stunning turn of events for the 29-year-old All-Star, as he said in mid-June he’d be willing to remain in Charlotte for less than the five-year, $221 million supermax contract he was eligible to receive. He reportedly would have made financial concessions in exchange for added time security, but the Hornets’ refusal to commit to him until 2024 prompted him to “move on” after eight seasons in Charlotte.

“(L)eague sources say he would’ve stayed if they offered a five-year deal, even if it wasn’t for the full $221 million they could offer,” Bucher wrote.

Charotte received Terry Rozier, who agreed to sign a three-year, $58 million contract, and a second-round pick in the 2020 NBA Draft in exchange for Walker and a second-round pick in 2020. Most early reviews peg the Celtics as the winners of the trade because they replaced the departed Kyrie Irving with Walker, while the Hornets will rely on Rozier, who is unproven as a starter over the course of a season.