A Boston Celtics executive says All-Star point guard Kemba Walker signing with Boston means the franchise is still on the rise despite underachieving in 2018-19 and losing All-Stars Kyrie Irving and Al Horford in free agency.
As part of a sign-and-trade deal with the Charlotte Hornets, Walker signed a four-year, $140.79 maximum contract with the Celtics.
“Validation that we are still a good team on the rise,” the exec told Keith Smith of Celtics Blog. “If we were going to be this terrible team, Kemba would not have come. He had plenty of interest elsewhere. He knows how good we can be. And his presence as someone who wants to be in Boston, wants to be in the gym every day, wants to help the kids get better and will do it with a smile, is going to matter. A lot.”
Kemba Walker says he’s “itching” to get back to the playoffs. The three-time All-Star only went to the playoffs twice with the Hornets.
The fact that Walker chose the Celtics and not a team such as the Los Angeles Lakers, for example, proves Boston is still a free agency destination for stars despite what happened with Irving and the team in 2018-19.
Walker is one of the best players in the NBA. He averaged 25.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5.9 assists this past season while shooting 43.4 percent from the field, 35.6 percent from beyond the arc and 84.4 percent from the free-throw line.
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