Kemba Walker Is The Most Underrated Player In The NBA

[Feel_the_Heat15]

This is a player who averaged nearly 20 PPG over the past 2 seasons on good efficiency. He spaces the floor well and plays above average defense for a point guard. Are we forgetting how good Kemba was in Charlotte? Whoever gets Kemba from OKC will be getting a steal based off of what most teams around the league perceive his value to be. Simply didn't work out in Boston because he was usually injured during the most pivotal point of the season and there wasn't much chemistry between him, Tatum and Brown. Teams should be going after Kemba, not Lowry this year.

[Tor_Raps]

While he's not the most underrated player at his salary, OKC will get some great value near the trade deadline if he can show he's healthy.

Found it to be a bad move by the Celtics to sell so low. All that happens from that is the owner saves some money while putting out a worse product on the court.

[Duffman100]

I think price is really key. Kemba did start super super slow last season and picked it up as it went along. And it did feel like he never just meshed with Boston.

I'd be scared to pay Kemba 36 and 37 next two seasons. If you factor in contract, he's definitely not the most underrated at all.

If Lowry wants a 2 year 50, I'd rather pay that. Save 20 million with very similar, if not slightly better production.

[Joshyjess]

At this point in his career it's almost all about health. If Kemba can stay healthy, he can really help a team. In Boston, his health was just not good most of the time. When he had those moments of good health, he was worth the price. The question comes down to how much is a team willing to risk on him being / staying healthy going forward.

[celticfan42487]

Agreed. But only when his knee wasn't working and he lost a step &OR bit of hops.

But there's nothing to say he won't be recovered this year. When he has two healthy legs Kemba is great and was one of the most important pieces on BOS's offense.

He also fit in seamlessly into BOS's offense on the court with the players, provided a critical playmaking and pressure value release role, and off the court was the best team mate and professional you could want in a locker room.

BOS only traded him for the same reason they let Hayward go for nothing, the owners refuse to pay tax any longer.

[Zombiesonics]

his demise has been a bit overstated when you dig into his numbers and bostons performance with him late in the year. I'm a fan of his but he still has to prove his knee is better from the stem cell injection. he just has to PLAY and prove that he can be reliable again, okc is the perfect situation for that.

[bisme37]

Kemba is still a terrific scorer when healthy and a guy everyone in the lockeroom loves. If he didn't make a bazzilion dollars per year he'd be highly sought after. In particular he would amazing as a microwave scorer off the bench.

But I think most teams would prefer Lowry. Especially if we're talking about being a starter on a contending team. Kyle is the better playmaker and the far superior defender.

[IgorK]

He's not worth his contract. May very well still be a good contributor but he's not a 36M player.

[Duffman100]

Kemba is still a terrific scorer when healthy and a guy everyone in the lockeroom loves. If he didn't make a bazzilion dollars per year he'd be highly sought after. In particular he would amazing as a microwave scorer off the bench.

But I think most teams would prefer Lowry. Especially if we're talking about being a starter on a contending team. Kyle is the better playmaker and the far superior defender.

Especially if you're slotting him into an establish and contending team. Lowry's skillset easily slots in, he doesn't need the ball in his hands at all.

Kemba needs the ball in his hands constantly.

[BleedGreen1989]

This is a player who averaged nearly 20 PPG over the past 2 seasons on good efficiency. He spaces the floor well and plays above average defense for a point guard. Are we forgetting how good Kemba was in Charlotte? Whoever gets Kemba from OKC will be getting a steal based off of what most teams around the league perceive his value to be. Simply didn't work out in Boston because he was usually injured during the most pivotal point of the season and there wasn't much chemistry between him, Tatum and Brown. Teams should be going after Kemba, not Lowry this year.

Huh?

I love Kemba as anyone, but he's routinely hunted in high stakes games. He gives great effort, but this statement is just false.

[phanman]

He doesn't score well enough justify his massive contract nor his non existent defensive impact on that other end of the floor. Plus he is always is injured going into the playoffs. Despite shooting the 3ball at an average clip on high volume in the regular season(6 years-37.5% on 7.7 3PA ), his percentages crater in the playoffs(3 years- 30% on 6.9 3PA). Injuries have robbed him of that quick twitch first step and he doesn't even routinely beat defenders off the dribble anymore to attack the paint.

If anything the dude is overrated.

[ITYSL]

Worst contract in the league to most underrated player in one trade flat

[QingJames]

I agree Kemba is underrated at this point and can definitely help teams as a microwave scorer, but it's ridiculous to say teams should be targeting him over Lowry.

Lowry is:

- A better passer and playmaker (big problem with the Celtics was that Kemba is not a true playmaking PG, more of a score-first combo guard)
- A far superior defender
- Wants a cheaper contract than the one Kemba is currently on
- Doesn't have the same level of severe chronic health issue like Kemba does with his knees
- Proven locker room veteran with championship pedigree

Kemba has the shooting and scoring over Lowry, but the difference there is minuscule.

Even being 4 years older, Lowry is a way better player than Kemba at a way cheaper price tag - Lowry is far more valuable and it isn't close.

[BillessuR6]

Brutal defender. Cannot get to the rim anymore. He is only useful if he is really hitting shots from outside.

For 10-15 mio per year you can live with such a player but for a max guy its horrible.

The fact that he can only play half the games is just the icing on the cake of what a bad contract he has become.

[Froob]

Decent player, but doesn't play well against high competition.

[Bad-Thoma]

Kemba is a great teammate and when he gets hot he can go off but he was a terrible one on one defender last season, he draws charges well and I love that about him but teams sought him out and picked on him play after play. Offensively he wasn't bad but he wasn't worth his cost and most importantly only played in 43 games and had to be load managed through a lot of those. I'm a fan and I hope he comes back 100% through some miracle and has a great season, he's a great guy, but with his knee history you can almost guarantee his game will decline considering it's all predicated on quickness and his go to move is stopping on a dime for a midrange 2.

Our board was too hard on him last season but he's far from the most underrated guy in the league especially when you throw in his price tag.

[Jadoogar]

I think price is really key. Kemba did start super super slow last season and picked it up as it went along. And it did feel like he never just meshed with Boston.

I'd be scared to pay Kemba 36 and 37 next two seasons. If you factor in contract, he's definitely not the most underrated at all.

If Lowry wants a 2 year 50, I'd rather pay that. Save 20 million with very similar, if not slightly better production.

Yea i agree. There are too many point guards on the market right now, CP3, Conley, Lowry and Lonzo will all be available for less than 30m/year. Kemba won't be traded this offseason that's for sure.

[SF_Warriors]

For the same money I'm taking Lowry. Lowry most likely will come cheaper and is generally the healthier player, better defender, better playmaker, more efficient scorer, more playoff experience. What am I missing here OP?

[Duke4life831]

I think the complete opposite. I think he has been one of the more overrated players over the past few years.

He isn't a good facilitator at all. He is a horrific defender. And honestly his scoring is overrated, he tends to be below or just around league average when it comes to efficiency and he's really not that high of a volume scorer either.

I honestly think he gets by a lot on having a very likable personality. Also dont get me wrong, Im not saying he is a scrub or anything like that. But is he a max player, is he one of the top PGs in the game? No. He was a good starter and probably at the point of his career where he should be a 6th man microwave scorer.

But there were times when people were trying to have the Kemba/Kyrie debates and stuff. They were never close as players. Its just Kyrie is very unlikeable while Kemba is very likable.

[KembaWalker]

He's a fantastic regular season player
he's too easy to gameplan to pick on in the playoffs to be great