Boston Celtics: 3 mutually beneficial Kemba Walker trades
By Seth Quinn
Why the Boston Celtics do this deal:
This deal is somewhat similar to the Al Horford deal in the sense that both Eric Bledsoe and Steven Adams have two years left on their contracts, just like Kemba.
However, what is different is that Adams and Bledsoe aren’t as seamless as fits with the current roster as Horford, but also make a combined $35 million next season compared to Horford’s $27 million and Kemba’s $36 million.
Based on those two things, and the fact that the New Orleans Pelicans aren’t in rebuild mode like the Thunder means that the Pelicans don’t have the same leverage as the Thunder in a deal and therefore, shouldn’t require the C’s to give a 1st round pick to pull off this deal.
That doesn’t mean that Adams and Bledsoe wouldn’t contribute to the rotation, however.
Adams, while having a somewhat similar skill set to Rob Williams and Tristan Thompson, would be an upgrade barring Rob Will takes another huge leap next season.
Bledsoe, while not the best outside shooter, is at least somewhat respectable at 34% from three, and is a good defender who can play both guard positions (think like Marcus Smart’s skillset but with less hustle).
Even though Adams and Bledsoe are somewhat similar to players currently on the roster, acquiring them for Kemba gives them two contracts that are more tradable if necessary (Adams will make $17 million while Bledsoe will make $18 million next season) than Kemba’s contract, and also provides more depth at two positions of need.
On top of that, the C’s can then feel more comfortable trading guys like Marcus Smart (who seems likely to be traded this offseason at this point), Tristan Thompson, and Rob Williams, all guys with decent trade value who can net the C’s players in other areas of need.
Essentially, the main pull of this deal is making a deal in order to make it easier to make other, more helpful deals while also shedding Kemba’s contract without having to give up a 1st round pick.
Why the New Orleans Pelicans do this deal:
The Pelicans look at this trade as a way of getting rid of two overpaid players who don’t fit well with their current roster for one vastly overpaid player who fits better with their current roster.
The interesting thing with Kemba is that he plays like a shooting guard in a point guard’s body, so whether the Pelicans resign restricted free agent Lonzo Ball or not, Kemba would fit pretty well.
If the Pelicans do manage to resign Ball, Kemba would be the third scoring option and fourth playmaking option most likely, whereas he was asked to be the third scoring option but at times primary playmaking option for the C’s, which in hindsight may have been asking too much out of him.
If the Pelicans didn’t resign Ball in this scenario, Kemba would serve as his replacement at point guard, and still would be behind Zion and Ingram in the team pecking order.
As long as the Pelicans can still afford Ball, I personally feel like they will try to resign him, and I also personally feel they should pursue a guy like Myles Turner if they can somehow make a trade work with their remaining cap space and some of the remaining young players and picks they have.
If they went on to make this move for Kemba and acquire Myles Turner, they’d have an amazing starting lineup of Kemba Walker, Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, and Myles Turner.
If they are able to afford that while having some minimum contract and rookie contract players off the bench that can contribute respectable minutes, that would be a dangerous young team.
Considering Zion is still on his rookie contract, that gives the Pelicans more room to hold multiple big contracts, which makes that lineup a possibility with good maneuvering of the salary cap.
If Kemba doesn’t work out, the Pelicans can just let his contract expire and resign Zion after his team option ends that same offseason to what will most likely be a max contract, and retool the rest of the roster.
In the end, if the Pelicans feel like forming the dangerous lineup I mentioned is worth taking on Kemba’s contract while also creating a supporting cast that better fits around their stars in Zion and Ingram, then this trade should be beneficial for both sides.