A few weeks after replacing Danny Ainge as head of basketball operations with former head coach Brad Stevens, the Celtics made a huge move. Stevens revealed that he is sending all-star point guard Kemba Walker and a 2021 first-round draft pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder for AL Horford, Moses Brown, and a 2023 second-round pick.
It is almost unheard of for a trade of this significance to happen before the NBA combine but Stevens has a long last relationship with the Thunder’s general manager Sam Presti and the deal was good for both teams.
“Kemba is a true professional and a great teammate and player,” Stevens said in a statement, per ESPN. “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 added.
Kemba did a lot of good for the Celtics organization but after not getting the results they wanted in this year’s playoff run, the team decided to go in a different direction. Following the trade, the Celtics will have much more financial flexibility as they continue to build around their young stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Kemba Walker parts ways with the Boston Celtics
The money that would have gone to Walker can now be used to re-sign restricted free agent Evan Fournier who they got at this year’s trade deadline, and they have also reunited the players with Al Horford who was a Celtic for 3 years before signing a contract with the 76ers.
OKC on the other hand has continued to acquire a huge stockpile of draft picks over the last few years. The Thunder have 3 first-round picks in this year’s draft alone, and 18 first-rounders for the next seven drafts! The trade also continues a trend for Thunder GM Sam Presti as he seems to work with players to find them a suitable home as he did with Melo with Portland, CP3 with Phoenix, and Danny Green with Philly.