All-NBA point guard Kemba Walker is “increasingly likely” to accept a four-year, $141 million max offer from the Boston Celtics as soon as free agency opens up on June 30, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Walker's eight-year career with the Charlotte Hornets could be quickly coming to a close, as owner Michael Jordan is reportedly “no longer determined” to shell out the money it would take to keep Walker in house.
The Celtics have targeted the 29-year-old as their No. 1 priority in free agency, who makes for an elite level replacement for Kyrie Irving, who is likely to depart this season after opting out of the last year of his contract.
Walker enjoyed his best season as an NBA player, posting 25.8 points per game while playing all 82 contests this season — a sign of his durability.




Boston could make this deal work, anticipating that Irving's departure will be followed by that of Al Horford and Marcus Morris, who would command offers from other competing teams.
Besides those salaries coming off the books, the Celtics would need to renounce their rights to restricted free agent Terry Rozier, freeing up over $9 million in cap room — enough to sign Walker to a four-year deal, which will start at $32.7 million for the first season.
Walker stood to make over $190 million by re-signing with the Hornets, an average of $38 million over the course of five years. It was unlikely that Jordan would offer him the supermax of $221 million ($44.2 million per year), given the team's financial implications.
Despite Walker's willingness to take less than the supermax to stay in Charlotte, the team's cheapskate approach has likely deterred his desire to stay in The Queen City, opting instead for a chance to build a contender in Bean Town in the near future.