Matters are fluid for the Boston Celtics at the moment. Within the last 24 hours they have been eliminated from the playoffs, seen Danny Ainge step down as team president and watched head coach Brad Stevens take over as the new president, vacating the head coaching position. What does this mean for the Celtics' offseason and for someone like Kemba Walker?
Walker, who's now two years into a four-year, $141 million deal, is a prime trade candidate for the Celtics. Recent reports have stated that the 31-year-old could potentially be had for a low price via trade given his contract and injury-riddled 2020-21 campaign.
With that said, Walker is still a highly functioning lead guard who can effectively run an offense … when healthy. Across his two regular seasons in Beantown, Walker has averaged a combined 19.9 points, 4.8 assists and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 37.2 percent from beyond the arc. He can make a difference for a playoff team.
Here are three teams that should inquire about a Kemba Walker trade.
3. New York Knicks
Derrick Rose and Elfrid Payton hit free agency this offseason, creating an opening at point guard for head coach Tom Thibodeau's rotation. Kemba Walker would be an upgrade at the position.
The Knicks' most pressing need is having another go-to or capable isolation scorer next to Julius Randle. Walker is a proven commodity with the ball in his hands. He swiftly gets to the rim off the dribble, can stick midrange and/or fadeaway jump shots and has a knack for hitting shots in the clutch. Having that type of ball handler would take some offensive attention off Randle and RJ Barrett.
New York will have roughly $60 million in cap space this offseason, meaning they can absorb Walker's salary and still make noise in free agency. The Knicks could even try to scoop an extra asset out of the Celtics if they're that desperate to deal him, though it's unclear if that's actually realistic.
On the other hand, New York could look to sign one of the top point guards in free agency like Lonzo Ball or Dennis Schroder at a lower figure (Walker is due roughly $36 million for the 2021-22 NBA season). Heck, maybe keep Rose given the way he has carried their offense recently?
2. Dallas Mavericks
Luka Doncic is a beast but one getting little help on the offensive end. Kemba Walker would give Doncic a much-needed lift in that regard.
Walker could bring the ball up the floor and run head coach Rick Carlisle's offense. He can help generate ball movement and get some attention off their outside shooters. All the while, it takes some of the load off Doncic to serve as the point forward or force up a shot before the shot clock expires.
Walker's arrival would also assist Kristaps Porzingis, as the point guard moving the ball around the floor and/or trying to get open when Doncic has the ball takes some eyeballs off the big man, allowing Porzingis to get better looks. As far as a trade is concerned, the Mavericks could open up a good amount of cap space to absorb his deal.
The knock against the Mavericks making a move for Walker? Guys like Tim Hardaway Jr., Josh Richardson and Jalen Brunson would be possible casualties. Is the financial investment in Walker worth the risk? That's what the Mavericks' brain trust would have to weigh.
1. Miami Heat
The Heat were just trounced in four games by the Milwaukee Bucks. Look for them to throw some haymakers this offseason, one of which could be acquiring Kemba Walker.
Miami has been linked to nearly every point guard on the planet over the last two years, and it makes more sense than ever for them to take a chance at the position. Walker presents an upgrade over Goran Dragic and is a better player at this stage of his respective career than both Kendrick Nunn and Tyler Herro. The UConn product and Jimmy Butler would make for a potent one-two scoring punch, as well as two players in or near the end of their respective primes trying to win their first NBA championship.
The Heat can offer the expiring contracts of Dragic and Andre Iguodala (they both have team options) to Boston for Walker. Boston gets two players who can be immediate contributors and open up cap space for the summer of 2022. From Miami's perspective, they improve at point guard, upgrade their overall operation and preserve draft capital for a future blockbuster trade.
Walker gives the Heat a proven scorer and a player looking to prove himself worthy of the max-level contract attached to his game. Simultaneously, the Heat will be trying to eliminate the stench of the 2021 playoffs. The two parties can help each other.
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