Boston Celtics: 2 Kemba Walker-Myles Turner trade packages

Why the Boston Celtics do it

Like the last deal (and as the article title suggests) Myles Turner is the primary target in a return for Kemba Walker. The trade-off of a descending point guard on the wrong side of 30 for an ascending center in his mid-twenties is the goal in any deal, and it will obviously take draft picks to get it done.

That said, this is much less of an all-in offer. In fact, despite the fact that the last offer brings back three potential starters and this deal fetches just one, the complementary nature of Doug McDermott and Jeremy Lamb compared to Warren and LeVert’s more ball-dominant games could make them smoother lineup fits in Boston.

Why the Indiana Pacers do it

Once again, adding Walker to Brogdon and Sabonis is the key to the deal on Indiana’s end (in addition to the draft compensation from the Cs) but this iteration allows them to keep Warren and LeVert, who could complete the starting lineup with the aforementioned trio.

For Indiana, this is a shift from a frontcourt focus (with Sabonis/Turner) to a backcourt focus (with Walker/Brogdon) but Walker’s superior speed and rim attacks opens up another dynamic to a Pacers offense that would have increased spacing and more room for Sabonis to operate in the post.

While the move doesn’t necessarily make Indiana a bona fide contender in the east, it strengthens their future prospects in a season where getting past the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets in the Eastern Conference may be too tall of a task regardless of what moves the Pacers make.