Boston Celtics: 2 potential surprise Kemba Walker trade destinations

Surprise Boston Celtics Kemba Walker trading partner #2: Miami Heat

The Miami Heat hoarded cap space for years in the hopes of landing a marquee free agent from the class of 2021 this summer. After getting brutally swept from the first round of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, their luster has worn off since their NBA Finals berth in the bubble.

Could they still land a headline name?

The New York Knicks won just one more game in the postseason’s first-round but are instead the team that is being mentioned alongside Kawhi Leonard and Damian Lillard. Miami made moves to win this year but adding Victor Oladipo, Trevor Ariza, and Nemanja Bjelica didn’t move the needle much against the Milwaukee Bucks.

There may not be many big moves to make this upcoming offseason for the Heat–unless maxing out Mike Conley is on the agenda–and due to them not having their draft pick this year or in 2023, they may not have the leverage to land Lillard or another point guard in a trade.

Unless that point guard is Kemba Walker, of course.

Walker could be used in a salary dump if the Cs plan on pursuing someone on the free-agent market (Chris Paul perhaps?) or in a swap involving the final years on Andre Iguodala and Goran Dragic’s deals with the Heat opting-in and trading them both.

Either way, like Los Angeles, Miami could portray Walker as the third wheel needed to get them over the top again.