After eight years with the team, the Charlotte Hornets completed a sign-and-trade to send Kemba Walker to the Boston Celtics for Terry Rozier in July 2019.
Drafted by the team in 2011, Walker became a franchise star for the Bobcats/Hornets and is still the franchise’s all-time leading scorer.
In his final season in Charlotte, Walker averaged 25.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game. This performance was good enough for an All-NBA Third Team selection, the only All-NBA selection of his career. Despite having a career year with the Hornets, Walker chose to depart in the offseason. This came as a little bit of a shock.
At the time, Walker made it clear that the Hornets would be his first priority in free agency. Additionally, Walker even said he would take a hometown discount to remain with the franchise that drafted him.
So what changed, and how did Walker end up in Boston? Plus, what happened to Rozier’s post-Celtics career, and which side got the better end of this swap?
Boston Celtics Trade Throwback #9: Kemba Walker for Terry Rozier
Full Sign-And-Trade Details
Boston Celtics receive: Kemba Walker and a 2020 second-round pick (later became Yam Madar)
Charlotte Hornets receive: Terry Rozier and a 2020 second-round pick (later became Grant Riller)
Why The Boston Celtics Acquired Walker
After a disappointing second-round exit to the Milwaukee Bucks the season prior, the Celtics were anticipating Kyrie Irving‘s departure in free agency. As it would turn out, the team eventually lost big man Al Horford in free agency as well. The Celtics were prepared to ramp up the development of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown and allow them to take the reigns of the franchise very early in their careers because of this. However, the Celtics wanted a solidified point guard on the team to pair next to them. And with Irving on his way out, the Celtics looked at the next best point guard on the market, who happened to be Walker.
.@KembaWalker, Let's Do This ☘ pic.twitter.com/wJo8InbX3c
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) July 8, 2019
Although Irving was a more decorated player in the league, Walker was only seen as a small downgrade to the Duke alum. In fact, both of their 2018-19 seasons were comparable statistically (although Irving had the slight advantage everywhere except for points per game). Plus, Walker had missed just two games in the two seasons prior. On the other hand, Irving missed 37 games in the regular season alone during that same span. There were also reports that Irving was not the best teammate. The Celtics ultimately acquired Walker under a four-year, $140.79 million contract.
Sure, it is fair to say that Irving was an overall better player than Walker. However, knowing Irving was on his way out, Walker was the best possible replacement for him at the time. This sign-and-trade seemed like an obvious choice for the Boston Celtics at the time.
The Reason the Hornets Moved on From Walker
Even though Walker was open about wanting to stay in Charlotte, the team decided they did not want to retain the UConn alum. Reports came out in 2019 that the Hornets offered Walker a five-year, $160 million deal. This is over $60 million less than what Walker was eligible to make under a supermax contract.
Ultimately, it came down to Walker and the Hornets’ inability to regularly be a playoff team. In Walker’s eight seasons with the franchise, Charlotte only made it to the postseason twice, losing to the Miami Heat in the first round both times.
Despite Walker coming off a career year, it was tough for the Hornets to commit to the point guard for the long haul. And instead of letting him go for nothing, the team was able to get a then 25-year-old Rozier in return from the Celtics. Rozier was not a regular starter with Boston, but he showed potential when he played. The Louisville alum averaged 16.5 points per game during the team’s 2017-18 Eastern Conference Finals run and started every game that postseason. Plus, his three-year, $56.7 million contract was much cheaper than Walker’s.
If the Hornets signed Walker to a supermax contract, this would have kept Walker with the team until he was 34. Plus, with Walker already being 29 at the time, it was not difficult to believe he had already hit his peak. Walker is arguably the greatest player in Charlotte’s history, but their reasoning for moving on from him made sense.
Kemba Walker for Terry Rozier: Four Years Later
Boston Celtics
The Celtics ended the 2019-20 season with a 48-24 record, which led to the team being the No.3 seed in the conference. This was the first season where Boston was led by Tatum and Brown. In the bubble, the Celtics advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals before losing to the Heat in six games.
One year later, the Celtics finished the 2020-21 season with a disappointing 36-36 record. After a play-in win against the Washington Wizards, the Celtics lost to Irving’s Brooklyn Nets in five games in the first round.
Kemba Walker
In his first year with the Celtics, Walker played and started 56 games for the team. Walker averaged 20.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game while shooting 42.5% from the field. This performance was good enough for Walker to get selected to the fourth All-Star team of his career.
Throughout the team’s postseason run, Walker averaged 19.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game on 44.1 FG%. This included a 32-point performance in the series-clinching Game 4 against the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round.
During the 2020-21 season, Walker’s injuries began derailing his career as he only played in 43 games out of 72. Walker averaged 19.3 points, 4 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game in these games.
In the postseason, Walker only played in three games and averaged 12.7 points per game on 31.7 FG%.
The following offseason, the Boston Celtics made a trade that sent Walker to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a returning Horford.
Charlotte Hornets
In the Hornets’ first season without Walker in nearly a decade, the team finished with a 23-42 record. The team’s leading scorer was Devonte’ Graham, who averaged 18.2 points and 7.5 assists per game. Charlotte ended up with the third pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and selected guard LaMelo Ball. Ball went on to win the Rookie of the Year award in 2021.
The next season, the Hornets improved to a 33-39 record and secured a play-in spot. However, the team lost to the Indiana Pacers 144-117 and once again failed to make the playoffs. Heading into the 2023-24 season, the Hornets still have yet to make a playoff appearance post-Walker.
Terry Rozier
Rozier’s first season with Hornets was a big success for the guard as he became their regular starting point guard. In 63 games during the 2019-20 season, Rozier averaged 18 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game while shooting 42.3% from the field and 40.7% from beyond the arc. All of these numbers were career highs for Rozier.
During the 2020-21 season, Rozier moved to the shooting guard position full time. On the year, his scoring improved to 20.4 points per game on 45 FG%. Additionally, Rozier’s 4.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game were almost identical to his season prior. Rozier was the team’s leading scorer this season.
In 2021-22, Rozier averaged 19.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. This includes a 25-point, 10-rebound, and 11-assist triple-double against the Detroit Pistons. In August 2021, the Hornets signed Rozier to a four-year, $96.26 million extension that will keep him on the books until 2026.
Last season, Rozier averaged 21.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game.
Rozier has grown into an important player and Charlotte and has started every game of his Hornets career so far.
Verdict
Acquiring Walker was a no-brainer at the time. He was the best realistic replacement for Irving, and he happened to be coming off a career year. However, Walker’s career in Boston lasted just two seasons, only half the time he was under contract for. On the flip side, “Scary Terry” Rozier has become a regular contributor for the Hornets.
Walker was solid with the Celtics, but he never became “Cardiac Kemba” with the team. The Hornets seemingly made the right call letting Walker go as it was clear Walker was on the wrong side of his prime in Boston. Plus, with his contract, he quickly became one of the most overpaid players in the league.
Rozier was unlikely to ever have a big role with the Celtics. His talent was clearly there, but he was never going to get constant playing time as the Celtics had so many other up-and-coming stars. Going to Charlotte, where he immediately became a starter, was the best thing that could have happened for Rozier.
As it stands, the Boston Celtics are in a much better position to compete for a title than the Charlotte Hornets four years after this trade. That said, when talking about this specific trade, it is tough not to view the Hornets as the team who got the better end of the deal.
