The Boston Celtics will be without Kemba Walker to start the year, and Bleacher Report has a mixed bag of emotions regarding his 2020-21 outlook.
Only if you’ve been living under a rock these past few weeks would you not be aware that the Boston Celtics are expected to be without their All-Star point guard, Kemba Walker, to start the season.
After receiving a stem cell injection in his left knee in early October, the second-year Celtic was placed on a 12-week strengthening program to prepare for the upcoming campaign.
Unfortunately, this timeline will subsequently bleed into the 2020-21 regular season, leaving Boston without their floor general for at least the first month of action.
After the year in which Walker put forth in 2019-20, this certainly comes as a blow. Through 56 games, the 4x All-Star posted one his best seasons as a pro, averaging 20.4 points, 4.8 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and just shy of a steal per game on 43 percent shooting from the field and 38 percent shooting from deep.
Proving to be one of the best guards in the league during the past several campaigns, Kemba Walker still has the upside of a top-10 player at his position but, according to Bleacher Report, his health ailments are a major factor as to why he finds himself listed at 20th overall in their latest power rankings.
Writer Dan Favale went on to state that the injury clearly compromised his production during last year’s postseason and casts a shadow of doubt in regard to his long-term prospects moving forward as well. That said, he also acknowledges the impact that a healthy Walker provides to this Boston Celtics squad:
"Left knee problems are extracting a toll from Kemba Walker, both on the court and in this space. His burst was visibly compromised by the end of the playoffs, and he’s slated to miss the start of this season after receiving a stem cell injection that will sideline him through at least the first week of January.What he looks like upon his return, and whether he can remain on the court long enough for it to matter, means just about everything to the Celtics. They have their top-10ish player in Jayson Tatum, but Walker’s shot creation and playmaking are more pivotal than ever following Gordon Hayward‘s departure. Boston rated in the 20th percentile of offensive efficiency last season without both players."
"This all speaks to the importance and impact of Walker. He is stardom to scale. Lineups can treat him like the kitchen sink thanks to his off-the-dribble three and ability to get around defenders from above the break, with or without a screen, but he’s also fit to play nice with others. He cuts backdoor, slips screens and flies around picks. Boston upped his spot-up three-point-attempt rate last season, and he responded by shooting 42 percent on those looks.Fully healthy, Walker is a top-10-to-12 guard and overall top-25 player. His peak is not in question. The chances of him returning to it aren’t even necessarily up for debate. The amount of time he’ll actually spend on the floor this season is a different story."
While there are a few players that could actually wind up benefiting from the absence of Walker, ultimately the team loses a large chunk of its luster with him sidelined.
If he can come back fully healthy after his one month(ish) hiatus, prepare to see the top-tier point guard Boston Celtics and, frankly, NBA fans have grown to know and love.
However, as we move along throughout the remainder of the 3-years left on his contract, be emotionally prepared for the very realistic scenario in which we oft find him sitting on the bench in street clothes.
When full-go, Walker is absolutely worth the $140 million he’ll be making during his tenure in Beantown.
When hobbled, however, his deal winds up looking like one that the franchise wishes they could take back.