Boston Celtics: B/R eyes potential deals for Walker and Smart

Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz came up with separate trades that would send away Boston Celtics guards Kemba Walker and Marcus Smart.

With the offseason in full swing for the Boston Celtics–and the Los Angeles Lakers being one win away from making that a reality for all 30 NBA franchises–mock drafts, free agency pieces, and, of course, trade proposals are making their way around the interwebs.

Around these parts, the Houdini has been steadfast in trying to figure out the winning combination this offseason for the Cs given their dearth of first-round picks, the mid-level exception, and the trade value of their several expiring contracts.

Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz came up with offseason trades that would shock every NBA Fanbase…and if the deals he proposed for Kemba Walker and Marcus Smart came to fruition, it wouldn’t be a good kind of shock for Boston Celtics fans. First, let’s start with the Walker proposal:

"Boston Celtics Receive: PG Dejounte Murray, C LaMarcus Aldridge, 2020 No. 11 overall pickSan Antonio Spurs Receive: PG Kemba Walker, C Enes KanterWith Walker as the third option moving forward, the Celtics could flip him now while his value is still high and get some much-needed frontcourt help. Aldridge is still playing at a high level (18.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.6 blocks) and has developed a nice outside shot (38.9 percent from three). He would be a huge upgrade over Daniel Theis at center and bring nine years of playoff experience. Murray, 24, would better align with the Celtics’ young wings than Walker, giving them an elite defensive backcourt with either Brown or Marcus Smart."

This return would be solid, but there is no need to give up an All-NBA point guard and have the best players received in the deal be a 35-year-old big man (Aldridge) and a point guard coming off an ACL tear (Murray). The most valuable asset is an end-of-lottery pick in a weak 2020 NBA Draft class.

Now, onto the trade that would leave Celtics fans absolutely appalled:

"Dallas Mavericks Receive: G Marcus SmartBoston Celtics Receive: PF Maxi Kleber, SG Seth Curry, 2020 No. 31 overall pick (via Golden State Warriors)Getting the Celtics to agree to part with Smart would be the real shocker here even if Dallas can offer a nice collection of players and draft picks in return. Putting Smart in a backcourt next to Luka Doncic would almost be unfair to opponents as Doncic can pick apart teams on offense while Smart locks them up on D.Kleber would become the Celtics’ new starting power forward and allow them to move Jayson Tatum to the wing and use Gordon Hayward as one of the NBA’s best sixth men. Curry was the third-best qualified three-point shooter in the NBA this season (45.2 percent), and the Warriors’ pick is the first of the second round."

Kleber and Curry would be fine bench pieces. That is indisputable. The first pick of the second round is also one of the most valuable assets in any draft because of the contractual differences between being drafted in the first and second rounds.

If Danny Ainge actually traded away one of the main reasons why the Cs even made it to the Eastern Conference finals for a few bench pieces he can find alternatives for in free agency, there would be quite the angry fanbase on their hands.

In conclusion, no, Walker and Smart are not untouchable. But for these deals? Don’t even breathe in their direction.