It appears a few esteemed Boston Celtics alumni could have their next teams lined up for the 2022-23 season. Isaiah Thomas and Kemba Walker, who both made All-Star teams as the Celtics’ starting point guard during their time in Boston, have been linked to a conference rival, according to Marc Stein.
Stein reported that the two of them have been linked to the Charlotte Hornets.
“The Hornets are said to have added Elfrid Payton to the list of guards they are considering along with the prospect of re-signing Isaiah Thomas or club legend Kemba Walker, who remains on Detroit’s roster with his anticipated buyout still on hold,” Stein wrote on August 28
Walker, 32, played for the Hornets from 2011 to 2019 before joining the Celtics, while Thomas, 33, caught on with Charlotte late during the 2021-22 season. In July, The Athletic’s Shams Charania also reported that the Hornets were interested in both Walker and Thomas.
Thomas appeared to have the desire for another go-round with Charlotte. On July 25, he tweeted, “I need to be back with my young killas!!!”
Walker, meanwhile, is still stuck in Detroit until his buyout is finalized. The New York Knicks traded him to the Pistons during the draft. A week later, on June 30, Detroit agreed to buy out his $9.2 million contract, according to The Detroit Free Press.
Ex-Celtic May Go Back to the Lakers
Stein also mentioned Dennis Schroder’s potential return to the Los Angeles Lakers, whom he played for during the 2020-21 season. Although the team acquired guard Patrick Beverley on August 25, trading for another guard, Schroder, is not out of the question, Stein reported.
“It is not yet clear if the Beverley acquisition completely rules out a Schröder return or if Westbrook’s potential exit could re-open the door,” Stein wrote in his Substack column.
Stein also tweeted on August 23 that signing Schroder was a “legit consideration” that depended on “how the rest of their roster develops.”
After one season as a Laker, Schröder played for Boston and Houston in 2021-22.
More NBA notes:
Schroder had strongly hinted in a July 19 Instagram Stories post that he was interested in playing for the Lakers again, or more specifically, playing with LeBron James again. James appeared to answer in the comments section with “Tuff!!” and three fire emojis.
Schroder was lambasted for reportedly turning down a four-year extension worth up $84 million from the Lakers, to which he then signed for $5.9 million with the Celtics that very summer.
One Writer Suggested Charlotte Sign Schroder
On August 22, Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report listed Schroder as one of the better free agents still on the market while also naming the Hornets as the team that should sign him.
“Schröder finished second in Sixth Man of the Year voting in 2020. And on the right team, his attack-first game could lift a second unit,” Bailey wrote. “The Charlotte Hornets, who still have access to the non-taxpayer mid-level exception ($10.5 million), might be that team. Right now, LaMelo Ball is the only real point guard on the roster. And with his 6’7″ size, he could probably share the floor with Schröder for stretches.”
Despite Bailey’s suggestion that the Hornets sign Schroder, there has been no reported interest between the two parties this offseason.
Ex-Celtics Stars Linked to Conference Rival: Report