The Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder are the first team to make a splash during the NBA offseason. With a need to move on from Kemba Walker and a need at the center position, the Celtics managed to address both of their needs in one.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Celtics are trading Kemba Walker, No. 16 overall pick, and a 2025 second-round pick to the OKC Thunder in exchange for Al Horford, Moses Brown, and a 2023 second-round pick.
“The Boston Celtics are trading Kemba Walker and their 2021 first-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a package that includes Al Horford, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.”
“Along with Walker and the No. 16 overall pick in 2021, the Celtics are also sending a 2025 second-round pick to the Thunder in exchange for Horford, Moses Brown and a 2023 second-rounder, sources said.”
Walker has been dealing with knee issues over the last few NBA seasons and there has been a real lack of reliability as a result. The Celtics have needed to find a suitable option at the center spot and gaining Horford as well as Moses Brown can go a long way in addressing that.
READ MORE: NBA Rumors: This Celtics-Thunder trade sends Kemba Walker to OKC
Our own Evan Massey initially reported the OKC Thunder as a potential trade suitor to take on Kemba Walker using Al Horford’s contract to help facilitate the deal. The incentive for the Thunder is to receive another asset in the 2021 NBA Draft for taking on Walker’s large deal, who is signed for one-year more than Horford.
There already is a track record for the Thunder with taking on an aging point guard with injury concerns who manages to revitalize his trade stock. Chris Paul is a prime example of this. After putting together an All-NBA Second-Team campaign, he was dealt to the Phoenix Suns as a positive asset.
It will be fascinating to see how long the OKC Thunder decide to approach a rebuild with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander developing as quickly as he has. In the meantime, the Thunder will certainly be a team to watch in NBA trade rumors.
