The Boston Celtics reportedly traded away Kemba Walker and a 2021 NBA Draft 1st-round selection (No.16 overall) to the Oklahoma City Thunder. This was the first move for new Celtics president of basketball operations (and former Celtics head coach) Brad Stevens. The Celtics receive Al Horford, Moses Brown and a 2023 second-round pick. Ironically, Horford once played for Boston.
I really think this is bad for Boston, as not only did Walker play a big role at his time in Beantown, he didn’t really get much of a shot to prove to Celtics fans what he was made of. He only played two seasons in a Boston uniform, and he didn’t have his best year this year.
It’s unusual for any trade to happen before the NBA Draft combine, let alone one this significant. But Stevens has a long-standing relationship with Thunder general manager Sam Presti, and the deal accomplished in filling big holes for both franchises. Stevens said in a statement how much Walker meant to the team, “Kemba is a true professional and a great teammate and player. I want to thank him for his tremendous impact, and the positive contribution he’s made both to the Celtics and the city of Boston.”
Stevens will try to retool the roster around young, blooming stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Walker is owed nearly $73 million over the next two years, while Horford is owed $53 million–$41 million guaranteed–in the same amount of time. That flexibility will give Boston the capability to re-sign guard Evan Fournier, whom they acquired at this year’s trade deadline from Orlando and who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, while reuniting with Horford.
Oklahoma City, on the other hand, is continuing to get draft capital as it rebuilds its roster around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder have 3 first-round picks in the draft: their own, Boston’s, and either the fifth pick or the 18th pick, depending on whether OKC gets the Houston Rockets’ top-4-protected first rounder after Tuesday’s NBA draft lottery. The Thunder have 18 first-rounders over the next seven drafts.
This move brings an end to a tumultuous two years for Walker, 31, with the Celtics after his signing in July 2019 to replace Kyrie Irving as the team’s starting point guard. After being one of the most durable players in the NBA during his eight years as a Charlotte Hornet to begin his career, missing a total of 35 games, he’s missed 45 in the past 2 years, including 29 this year alone. Still, he averaged 19.3 points and 4.9 assists in 43 games.
The Celtics are in for a rough offseason.
