Kemba Walker Trade Hypotheticals

                                                       

-@threalmattmoney

  I am still very unsure whether or not the rumors of the Celtics and Kemba Walker wanting to mutually part ways is true, but if it is we should begin to explore some of the possibilities we could get in exchange for him. Kemba is still a high level basketball player, probably only a tier below all-star but his contract exceeds his production. That is why it is very unlikely that we are going to be able to get a player or players of equal production in return. I have laid out three possibilities that make sense for both the Celtics and the other teams involved. 

Trade #1

New Orleans Pelicans-

    I imagine the Pelicans are going to want to begin competing quickly with Zion already playing as an All-NBA talent. They have a couple contracts they may want to get rid of, and its unlikely they will be able to resign all of their restricted free agents. I'm sure they would want spacing around Zion and Kemba could provide that. This deal would look like Steven Adams (2/35mil) plus a sign and trade involving Josh Hart with a contract ~14mil per year. preferably on a 2 year deal so we have some easily tradable contracts who can also provide help now as well as cap flexibility in a few years. Outgoing we would likely have Kemba Walker and possibly Grant Williams, a big who could theoretically space alongside Zion. Once again certainly not a perfect deal, but we get a proven NBA wing in Hart and a big physical center to guard guys like Embiid. 

Trade #2

Oklahoma City Thunder-

This trade brings a familiar face back home in Al Horford. This trade is probably my least favorite out of the three, because I think we get the least talent in return and we more than likely will have to give up a 1st and probably at minimum another 2nd. Why this makes sense for the Celtics is that Horford's deal is one year shorter and it provides a big who is known for being able to defend Embiid well. It would most certainly suck paying our backup center 27 mil, but it allows us a lot more cap and roster flexibility going forward. In this trade, like the trade above I am assuming if this trade is completed there will be a subsequent trade sending Thompson away. So in all this trade would likely look like Walker, 1st, 2 2nds<===>Horford.

Trade #3

Clippers/Cavaliers- This one is my favorite, it is also one that has a lot of moving parts. This probably only happens if the Clippers flame out once again and both PG and Kawhi stay. They clearly need another scorer on this team and Kemba could fill that roll either as a 6th man or in the starting lineup. The Clippers will be sending Patrick Beverly to the Celtics, and Luke Kennard and a 1st to the Cavs. Patrick Beverly is a fine defender, but is needed to make the money work and is by no means a centerpiece to this team. Kennard is a fine shooter, but on a big deal and has had multiple games this playoff without leaving the bench. They also will receive two 2nds from the Celtics. The Cavs will be sending Nance and Osman to the Celtics. Losing Nance will hurt, but they are getting a lot of compensation in form of draft picks. The Celtics will be giving the Cavs Romeo Langford and 2 1sts, and they will be giving the Clippers 2 2nds and Kemba. The Celtics get a lot more roster flexibility and cap from these moves and now have a very well rounded team. Their depth chart at the end of this deal would look like PG: Beverly, Pritchard, SG: Smart, Fournier, SF: Brown, Nesmith, PF: Tatum, Nance, C: Williams, Thompson. This team should certainly be an elite defensive team, with enough scoring to compete with the top competition. The roster may have less talent without Walker, but one could argue the roster is constructed much better than last year's.