Kemba to the Celtics: Is Walker an Improvement Over Kyrie? Will Hornets All-Out Tank?

Matt Moore

Updated:

Sep 23, 2021, 04:02 PM EDT

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Credit:

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports. Pictured: Kemba Walker

Kemba Walker is expected to sign with the Boston Celtics once NBA free agency opens, leaving Charlotte after eight seasons with the Hornets.
How does Kemba impact the Celtics' ceiling? And what can we expect from the Hornets this season without their franchise cornerstone?
Matt Moore analyzes all the fallout from the reported deal.

So much for tampering. The NBA free agency period started on Saturday as deals began being reported to as finalized. It was one thing when early reports had Klay Thompson deciding to re-sign with the Warriors on a max deal, but things accelerated Saturday with word that several players had agreed to terms with new teams.

One of those players was Kemba Walker, as Shams Charania from Stadium/The Athletic reported that the All-Star guard would be joining the Celtics on a four-year, $141 million deal. (No deal can become final until 6 p.m. ET on Sunday.)

The move is obviously a huge one for both the Celtics and Hornets. Let's tackle what it means for both, along with a look at their futures odds, starting with Boston.