Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge says the team's post-draft “plan A” this offseason was to sign point guard Kemba Walker and big man Enes Kanter.
The Celtics accomplished their goal, as they acquired Walker in a sign-and-trade deal with the Charlotte Hornets and agreed to a free-agent deal with Kanter. Everyone inside the Celtics organization pretty much knew Kyrie Irving was going to leave Boston by the time of the draft, so Ainge and his staff set their sights on Walker and Kanter:
Danny Ainge says “Plan A” in post draft planning was Kemba Walker and Enes Kanter.
— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) July 17, 2019
Kemba Walker is one of the best players in the league. The three-time All-Star averaged 25.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game this past season with the Hornets while shooting 43.4 percent from the field, 35.6 percent from beyond the arc and 84.4 percent from the free-throw line. Walker may not be as good as Irving, but he's not as mercurial as Kyrie is.
Enes Kanter split time last season with the New York Knicks and Portland Trail Blazers. The 27-year-old put up 13.7 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 67 games while shooting 54.9 percent overall and 78.7 percent from the charity stripe. The Celtics lost All-Star Al Horford to the Philadelphia 76ers and traded Aron Baynes to the Phoenix Suns, so they were in need of a big man who can score and rebound at a high level.
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