After spending the first eight seasons of his career with the Charlotte Hornets, Kemba Walker has decided to move on to the Boston Celtics this offseason.
Despite Walker's departure, the Hornets still graciously released a touching tribute video for their former franchise star:
Thank you @KembaWalker ā you are FAM FOREVER. šš#BuzzCity pic.twitter.com/t1FaeuR9yH
ā Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) July 7, 2019
Likewise, the team issued an official statement and thanked Walker for everything he did for the franchise and the city of Charlotte:
ā Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) July 7, 2019
Walker played his heart out for Charlotte. Fans around Buzz City will surely miss his presence, not only on the court but also in the community.
The Hornets failed to build a winning culture throughout Walker's eight-year tenure with the franchise. Nevertheless, the 29-year old remained loyal with the franchise and initially prioritized re-signing with the team that drafted him with the ninth overall pick in 2011. He even went as far as saying he'd be willing to sign less than the supermax contract in order to help the Hornets build a better roster.
Instead, the Hornets reportedly offered Walker a $160 million deal over five years. Walker was eligible to sign a five-year contract worth north of $220 million because he was named to an All-NBA team this season. Had he not been eligible for the supermax, his normal max contract value was reportedly at five years and nearly $190 million.
That was a massive lowball offer on the part of the Hornets, and Walker did the right thing by walking away. At least he is in a much better situation now in Boston than he ever had in Charlotte. With the Celtics, Walker has a chance to finally be on a consistent playoff squad that has the potential to contend for a title.
Follow Us
Subscribe