Sports

Kemba Walker leaving Charlotte after eight seasons

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — He's been the face of the franchise for the Charlotte Hornets, almost since his arrival in the Queen City in 2011 after being drafted by the team at No. 9 overall.

Now Kemba Walker is taking his talents to one of the top contenders in the Eastern Conference: the Boston Celtics.

Walker announced Sunday sign a four-year, $141 million deal with the Celticson July 6 -- the first official day of NBA free agency.

Walker is a three-time all-star and upped his profile even further last season by being named to the All-NBA Third Team. He was the first Charlotte player to do so since Al Jefferson in the 2013-14 season.

Walker was eligible to receive the supermax from the Hornets, which would have netted him a five-year deal at more than $220 million. The Hornets offer, according to reports, came up about $60 million short of that, opening the door for Walker to pursue deals with other teams.