Dallas report pegs Celtics as frontrunner to land Kemba Walker in NBA free agency

Kemba Walker will be one of the most coveted NBA free agents available when teams can start agreeing to contracts with players Sunday night, and the Boston Celtics reportedly have serious interest in signing the Charlotte Hornets point guard.

But how likely is Walker to come to Boston?

Dallas Morning News reporter Brad Townsend tweeted Wednesday a list of the most likely destinations for Walker, citing a league source, and the Celtics are at the top.

Current Kemba Walker destination likelihood order, per league source:

1. Boston
2. Charlotte
3. Dallas (definitely in the mix, with Lakers)
Somewhere down the line: New York
— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) June 26, 2019

The New York Times' Marc Stein reported Tuesday the Celtics and Dallas Mavericks are at "the front of the line" trying to lure Walker to a new team. The Mavericks reportedly are 'confident' about their chances of landing Walker, but his score-first style isn't really what Dallas needs from its next starting point guard.

The Celtics likely would be a good fit for Walker, and they will need a new starting point guard if Kyrie Irving bolts for the Brooklyn Nets in free agency, which recent reports and the latest betting odds suggest is a likely scenario. Boston could re-sign restricted free agent Terry Rozier and make him the team's next starting point guard, but Walker is without question a better player.

Walker averaged a career-high 25.6 points per game and was named an All-Star starter for the first time last season. He's spent his entire eight-year career with the Hornets, but Charlotte isn't anywhere close to being a legit contender in the Eastern Conference. The Hornets can, however, offer Walker more money and term on his next contract.