Boston Celtics: 2 Kemba Walker-Myles Turner trade packages
Why the Boston Celtics do it
Myles Turner has long been the apple of our eye, and FanSided’s Josh Wilson made a guest appearance on HH to explain why not getting the Pacers center in return for Gordon Hayward was a failure:
"Myles Turner is a very impactful rim-protecting center that the Boston Celtics sorely need. Daniel Theis and Enes Kanter did what they could last season, but neither has the size or athleticism to play up above the rim on the defensive end. Turner does it better than most. Within six feet of the rim, of players who faced at least five attempts per game within that range on the defensive end, Turner forced the ninth-best decline in field goal percentage for opponents (-10.9 percent). Beyond that very direct stat, Turner is one of the most feared rim protectors in the league, which means he very well may dissuade opponents from even attempting shots."
The Cs have lacked a center that has inspired true fear in the heart of opposing drivers since Kevin Garnett was traded to Brooklyn. Amir Johnson, Al Horford, and Aron Baynes all contributed to a sturdy Cs defense, but Turner would once again give Boston a shot-blocking force to complete was has been an overall strong defensive unit since Brad Stevens made his way to Beantown.
Along with Turner, T.J. Warren was always someone the Houdini has targeted in deals (mostly involving Gordon Hayward throughout the past two seasons). While a foot injury has kept Warren out of the lineup since a December 29th loss to the Boston Celtics in Indiana, he showcased his isolation abilities on the national stage in the bubble last summer in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
Finally, Caris LeVert is a wild card. He has been absent after a life-saving procedure caught a cancerous growth in his kidney, but he could also return sooner than later given the recent green light given to him to return practicing with teammates.
If he can return to be the player he was in Brooklyn, this would be a steal of a deal for Boston, despite the high cost of such a deal.
Why the Indiana Pacers do it
Given the absences of Warren and LeVert from the lineup, the current #4 seed in the Eastern Conference would essentially be swapping out Myles Turner’s production with Kemba Walker’s…while also nabbing four future draft picks in return.
Indiana’s top priorities are Domantas Sabonis and Malcolm Brogdon, and Walker could be the veteran complement that could guide them through choppy waters in the postseason. With two point guards, the team’s shooting specialists (Jeremy Lamb, Doug McDermott, Justin Holiday) would likely find the increased frequency of ball movement and dribble breakdowns of opposing defenses conducive to better looks on the floor.