Winners & Losers: Kemba Walker Traded to the Thunder

Oct 13, 2019; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens talks with Boston Celtics guard Kemba Walker (8)nduring the first half of a preseason game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

What a week for the NBA. And we’re not even talking about the playoffs. We already ran through everything that happened this week, but when you really look at it, all you can say is wow. Just an insane news cycle with chaos in Dallas, CP3 in COVID protocals, Kawhi getting hurt, LeBron going of fon the league, and much more. If this is any indication about the upcoming summer, then the NBA is going to be off the rails. 

No matter how you break this down, this is an L for the Celtics. They cleared Kemba’s massive contract in this deal, but this franchise is still in flux on where to go from here. Not to mention that they have to worry about keeping Jayson Tatum and Jalen Brown happy. Oh, and they still don’t have a head coach. Brad Stevens is in for quite a battle to get things back on track in Boston. 

If it seems like the Thunder have every pick in the next five NBA drafts that’s because they almost do. Like, Sam Presti has accumilated so many draft picks going forward it’s almost insane. They have three first round picks in this upcoming draft after this Kemba deal and will be able to continue to see this rebuild through. They still have to hit on these picks, but it’s clear that Presti is setting the franchise up for success in the future. 

Yes, Kemba got paid and isn’t really a “loser” in that sense. But when you look at how this all played out, you have to think he might be regretting leaving Charlotte in hindsight. He was a franchise player for the Hornets and went to Boston in hopes of winning on the big stage. That didn’t happen and now he’s in Oklahoma City, who probably will try and figure out how to move him yet again. 

Talk about leverage. Jayson Tatum is the face of the Boston Celtics and has all the leverage in the world with the franchise. Tatum is up for a max extension this summer and will surely get it, but as we’ve seen in the NBA, he could also force Boston’s hand if he wanted to. We’re in the height of the player empowerment movement and with the Celtics at a crossroads, Tatum can make sure the franchise goes in the direction that he wants. 

One more L for the road for Danny Ainge. Although Ainge is now retired, he’s falling in the loser category here because he was the one who made the deal for Kemba Walker and handed out that big contract. Hindsight is 20/20 but when you look at the other moves that Ainge didn’t make during his time in Boston, this is a tough pill to swallow.