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Trade target can have a potential Bruce Brown-Nuggets type impact for Boston Celtics: Analyst

One analyst feels a Boston Celtics trade target on a division rival could potentially have a Bruce Brown-on-the-Nuggets type impact for the Cs.

By Andrew Hughes

Denver Nuggets v Los Angeles Lakers
Denver Nuggets v Los Angeles Lakers / Ronald Martinez/GettyImages
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CelticsBlog's Ben Dupont feels that Lonnie Walker IV has the potential to play the same role for the Boston Celtics -- if traded for in a simple swap of the wing for draft compensation -- that Bruce Brown had with the 2023 NBA Championship-winning Denver Nuggets.

"Walker is making just $2 million on a one-year deal," Dupont wrote. "Presumably, he signed at this lower number with Brooklyn to up his value and get a bigger payday this offseason. Could he fill a Swiss Army Knife backup-wing role like Bruce Brown did in Denver last year? Possibly. He’s an athletic shooting guard who has improved as a defender and shoots the ball really well (46% from three this season!). Plus, he had a really great series for the Lakers against the Warriors last playoffs."

It'd take a steep drop-off for the Brooklyn Nets to consider parting with Walker for just a few second-round picks at this point. Even if the Nets aren't planning on bringing him back next season, which shouldn't be ruled out based on how Brooklyn has operated under Sean Marks since the Kiwi ex-pro took over the front office, they could likely mine more value for the former Miami Hurricane on the trade market.

Lonnie Walker IV would be worth the likely steeper price it'd take to land him for Boston Celtics

Boston's bench may have staved off questions about the C's title hopes without more reinforcements with a 47-point masterclass December 15 showing in the team's 128-111 win against the Orlando Magic for now, but the next time a contender outpaces the second unit, the calls for a Walker-type player will once again resurface.

And when they do, Brad Stevens should listen.

Walker has shown flashes of being starter-level good on the Nets this season and with the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2022-23 season. He plays defense, knocks down threes at an uncanny 46.3% on more than five attempts per game, and could give you easy points in transition. If his price tag requires a future first-rounder, well, you go all in on a salary that won't make Wyc Grousbeck and the rest of the ownership group angry and pray he ties up any loose ends on the second unit.

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