Kemba Walker to Sign 4-Year Deal with Celtics

Kemba Walker has told the Charlotte Hornets of his intention to sign with the Boston Celtics when free agency officially begins. Walker will finalize a formal agreement for a four-year, $141 million deal with the Celtics, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Walker averaged 25.6 points, 5.9 assists and 4.4 rebounds last season, playing in all 82 games. The 29-year-old three-time All-Star earned All-NBA Third Team Honors last year, his best season as a pro. Walker spent the first eight years of his career in Charlotte, reaching the playoffs just twice. The Hornets failed to put sufficient talent around the talented point guard. Walker is the only Hornets' player to make an All-Star team since he was drafted ninth overall in 2011.

Boston can renounce the rights to restricted free agent point guard Terry Rozier to clear the necessary cap space to ink Walker to a max contract. Walker will replace All-Star guard Kyrie Irving, who plans to leave the Celtics after just two seasons to join the Brooklyn Nets. Irving has an agreement in place with the Nets on a four-year, $141 million contract.

All-Star Kemba Walker will sign with the Celtics and replace the departing Kyrie Irving as Boston's starting point guard. (AP Photo)

The Hornets declined to offer the supermax contract to Walker, paving the way for the former UConn star to leave in free agency. Charlotte's unwillingness to move Walker at last season's trade deadline could set the franchise back for years. Walker was the team's only attractive asset, yet management opted to keep him in an attempt to reach the postseason. Charlotte failed to reach its goal and missed the playoffs for the third straight season.

As for Walker, he finally gets the chance to play with formidable talent. He is set to join a starting lineup that will include Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and former All-Star Gordon Hayward. 

Brown, Hayward Lead Celtics Past Mavs

Gordon Hayward followed up his top scoring game as a member of the Boston Celtics with an all-around terrific outing, accumulating 16 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists in a 114-93 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night. Hayward put together another strong performance off the bench after he scored 35 points on Wednesday night.

Jaylen Brown, starting for the injured Marcus Morris (neck), posted a game-high 21 points to continue his hot streak. In his last five games, Brown has averaged 17 points and four rebounds. He is shooting 63.5 percent from the field, 46.7 percent on 3's and 70.6 percent from the free throw line in this stretch.

Jaylen Brown has scored 20 or more points three times in the past seven games. (AP Photo)

Al Horford logged 10 points, eight rebounds and eight assists—tying Hayward for a team-high. Point guard Terry Rozier, filling in for Kyrie Irving (scratched cornea), dished seven assists. Boston totaled 35 assists on 42 made field goals.

Rookie Luka Doncic had 19 points and nine assists for the Mavs. Harrison Barnes registered a team-best 20 points, while DeAndre Jordan had 12 points and corralled 15 rebounds.

The Mavs are 3-16 on the road this season.

The Celtics play the third contest of their four-game homestand Monday night versus the Brooklyn Nets.