NEW YORK (AP/105.3 The Fan) - Kemba Walker, a free agent target of the Dallas Mavericks this offseason, was a big winner Thursday.
Walker was voted to the ALL-NBA third team, meaning that he's now eligible to receive a five-year contract extension worth about $221 million from the Hornets if he opts to stay in Charlotte, a reward the NBA put in recently as further incentive to keep players with their current teams.
The Hornets could have offered him about $30 million less if he wasn't selected and failed to earn the criteria for the largest possible contract.
So what does this mean for the Mavericks and other teams who wish to court Walker this offseason?
Should Walker leave Charlotte, he'd only be able to sign a four-year, $141 million deal. A difference of one year and $80 million.
Hornets general manager Mitch Kupchak previously said the Hornets plan to do everything they can to keep the three-time All-Star.
Charlotte doesn't have to offer Walker the supermax, and could simply offer him a five-year, $190 million deal he could have received even if he didn't make an All-NBA team.
