Celtics trade Kemba Walker for Al Horford

[playa-hater]

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Another TPE

yeah but it sucks that we can't combine TPEs together or in a trade with a player, but still better than nothing.

[Triple7]

Horford will be a great mentor for Timelord. Rob bout to average 5apg

5apg?

Rob is already one of our best passers.

I'm hoping Horford can teach Rob how to shoot

Not just shoot, but to post up as well. Rob is limited to catching lobs and put backs. This trade gave us size. Plus an assurance for Rob, who would probably be injured again, and will be on minutes restriction till the playoffs If Horford plays like 75% of 2018 horford, then this was a good deal.

[Jingles]

Don’t get a few of the opinions I’ve read here that Brown, who was undrafted, is equivalent to the 16th pick in a deep draft. The Thunder don’t either - which is why they gave him up. He is certainly NOT a Timelord replacement in any shape or form - though Horford gives us flexibility there.

From what I’ve seen and read about him from
Thunder fans, he’s tall and can rebound but was a pretty terrible player for them. His best is to develop into a situational guy.

Okay deal - I get the rationale but a bit hard to stomach given strength of this draft. Whether it’s worth it will largely depend on what we are able to do with the cap flexibility.

Agreed that the ultimate outcome depends on the other shoes dropping, but in terms of the draft, if it’s deep, picks in the 20s can be bought and the talent isn’t a huge drop off if there’s a guy you love. I think the newfound flexibility is easily worth more than the 16th pick given that the team’s future depends on being able to bring in another star to play with Tatum. Right now, that flexibility brings us much closer to that outcome than a middling 1st rounder.

[Otis Green]

Al’s back!!!

Taking a look at the roster & around the league the Celtics clearly needed to move Kemba for some size (at the 4 spot).

The only true options I could foresee were Horford coming back or trading for Kristaps.

I wanted so bad to convince myself KP is the better choice (age, potential 20 PPG, 7’3) but I’m not sure this team deserved to take on another headcase (before we even touch the injury concerns).

Al, instead, is a more reliable vet presence, better D, better passer, better/just as good shooter + some fresh nostalgia for good measure.

What was missing the most this season was clearly a Horford/Hayward “make the right read” player. Kemba (loved him & appreciate him allowing the J’s to blossom) unfortunately just doesn’t play the stabilizer role well.

Getting a ball-mover back in the lineup was the key offseason move for me, so off to a nice start GMBS.

Timelord/Horford/Tatum/Brown/Smart
Moses/Jabari/Nesmith or Rome/Evan/Pritchard

Trade 1 of Nesmith or Rome (sorry, it’s time to make concrete decisions & pick a direction) + Tristan + GWill (+ sneak Edwards in a deal) for further reinforcements & there’s no excuse Chauncey or Cassell can’t lead us to true contender status.

WAY TOO EARLY to start rolling out rotations for the 21-22 season. Offseason just got started....This is only the first domino. The offseason will be the most wild offseason the Celtics have had in years

I left the trade caveat at the end. I don’t see any true stars breaking out this summer (Beal ain’t going nowhere) but I’d absolutely love to be wrong (& they end up in C’s green, of course).

[celticfan42487]

Dude. Kemba sucks.

I ain’t saying he doesn’t.

I’m bemoaning how far this team has fallen. The amount of talent on the roster is putrid compared to 2-3 years ago.

How it has gotten to the stage where we are paying teams big to take our big contracts is beyond me.

Kemba might have gone to **** but when we got him he had talent offensively. Now we’ve got nothing outside of two players. Neither are natural playmakers either. Putrid, putrid, putrid.

If I’m Tatum I’m already considering where I’m
going next because this franchise ain’t building ****.

None of that has anything to do with this trade

It should, every trade should solely be evaluated with did it make the team better today and better in the next 2 years because Tatum has his finger on the trade demand button as soon as his max kicks in.

[Homerclease]

I ain’t saying he doesn’t.

I’m bemoaning how far this team has fallen. The amount of talent on the roster is putrid compared to 2-3 years ago.

How it has gotten to the stage where we are paying teams big to take our big contracts is beyond me.

Kemba might have gone to **** but when we got him he had talent offensively. Now we’ve got nothing outside of two players. Neither are natural playmakers either. Putrid, putrid, putrid.

If I’m Tatum I’m already considering where I’m
going next because this franchise ain’t building ****.

None of that has anything to do with this trade

It should, every trade should solely be evaluated with did it make the team better today and better in the next 2 years because Tatum has his finger on the trade demand button as soon as his max kicks in.

Then he should like the trade as it makes the team better right now and makes the path to max cap room easier next offseason.

Horford > Walker and I won’t entertain any arguments otherwise

[JHTruth]

Fantastic trade. Kemba sucks guys. Small guard who doesn’t defend and shrivels up in the playoffs. No thanks.

The fact you also got a 1st rounder, and starting big man of the future. What a steal. Even Horford will help win now and has plenty left in the tank.

Team instantly better, and future/assets improved.

8.5/10 for Stevens on his first move.

Now to get Lowry from you guys.

Lonzo Ball is a better timeline for the two Js

Lowry? LOL Has maybe a year left at elite level. Crazy to trade big assets for him

[JHTruth]

I think I agree with you. He's super talented but if Moses can replace some of what he brings then I don't really want to give Timelord big money to play 45 games a year. I'm pretty done with injury prone players. If I could use him in a package of like Smart/Timelord/Nesmith + multiple picks for Beal then I do it.

Trading Rob now would be completely idiotic. You have another full year to evaluate him and his health and his value isn't close to peak right now.

No, not really at all. If we dont do anything this offseason (no trade no extension) he becomes a restricted free agent.

I will take my chances that they guy who has missed half the games in his 3 year career will not become perfectly healthy overnight and gamble on the bigger, almost as athletic, better defensive and rebounding younger player who has maintained excellent health.

Moses Brown played on an actively tanking team. It's hard to judge a player like that because they get spoon fed opportunities. We'll see how much actual playing time he gets in Boston although I like him

[celticfan42487]

None of that has anything to do with this trade

It should, every trade should solely be evaluated with did it make the team better today and better in the next 2 years because Tatum has his finger on the trade demand button as soon as his max kicks in.

Then he should like the trade as it makes the team better right now and makes the path to max cap room easier next offseason.

Horford > Walker and I won’t entertain any arguments otherwise

Hey man we all need to find ways to make ourselves happy so good for you.

Lets see if this leads to having enough cap room to resign fournier.

Or if it leads to Horford and/or Timelord playing more than 40 games this season

Or if it leads to us not letting Smart walk the season after to avoid luxury cap space while still getting to that max cap room next off season.

[Jingles]

I ain’t saying he doesn’t.

I’m bemoaning how far this team has fallen. The amount of talent on the roster is putrid compared to 2-3 years ago.

How it has gotten to the stage where we are paying teams big to take our big contracts is beyond me.

Kemba might have gone to **** but when we got him he had talent offensively. Now we’ve got nothing outside of two players. Neither are natural playmakers either. Putrid, putrid, putrid.

If I’m Tatum I’m already considering where I’m
going next because this franchise ain’t building ****.

None of that has anything to do with this trade

It should, every trade should solely be evaluated with did it make the team better today and better in the next 2 years because Tatum has his finger on the trade demand button as soon as his max kicks in.

Yesterday they had almost no ability or flexibility to bring in another star via trade in a way that made sense. Today they do. And the defense just got better by default, so, yeah, it fits your criteria.

[celticfan42487]

None of that has anything to do with this trade

It should, every trade should solely be evaluated with did it make the team better today and better in the next 2 years because Tatum has his finger on the trade demand button as soon as his max kicks in.

Yesterday they had almost no ability or flexibility to bring in another star via trade in a way that made sense. Today they do. And the defense just got better by default, so, yeah, it fits your criteria.

So brining in sub 30 games a year, 35 year old Horford, who the year prior Philly paid a 1rst just to get off their team, and losing the #16 pick means now we've improved our trade package for a star?

The difference between today and yesterday is the owners avoid luxury tax and the Celtics franchise lost the #16 pick.

Not sure how you can mental gymnastics it to mean we just improved our assets for a star but hey good for you.

[JHTruth]

Don’t get a few of the opinions I’ve read here that Brown, who was undrafted, is equivalent to the 16th pick in a deep draft. The Thunder don’t either - which is why they gave him up. He is certainly NOT a Timelord replacement in any shape or form - though Horford gives us flexibility there.

From what I’ve seen and read about him from
Thunder fans, he’s tall and can rebound but was a pretty terrible player for them. His best is to develop into a situational guy.

Okay deal - I get the rationale but a bit hard to stomach given strength of this draft. Whether it’s worth it will largely depend on what we are able to do with the cap flexibility.

Bingo.

Moses Brown cannot be both

1) An elite C prospect with elite potential

AND

2) Fodder in a big trade

He can be better than Tacko but not much more IMHO

[Ill News]

I'm just so glad that Al Horford is back with the Celtics. He was the first ever free agent to choose Boston, which helped our franchise's image so much that it led to Hayward, and then Kemba. This is where he belongs, and he'll be a great mentor and veteran for our guys, most of whom know him well already. Brad really loves him, I guess.

Embiid must be quaking in his boots now that we got his kyrptonite again (I kid, I know he's old...)

Oh, and this means our girl Anna Horford is back! Yeah babyyyy

[fallguy]

Horford is a nice piece for an offense that has stagnated for a couple of years. He can still pass and facilitate at the elbows.

At least part of me wonders if this is a precursor to a Jaylen trade though.

[NinjaBro]

I hope we find some veteran point guard that can facilitate first and setup an offense. I know Smart is serviceable but man some of those games watching his turn overs were infuriating.

Maybe Kyle Lowry?? Winner, tough, great leadership. Upcoming free agent

We're keeping Lowry away from you guys, we're going to retire his jersey and build statue eventually. You've already had Kyrie and now Kemba, can't risk you guys soiling Lowry too

[31to6]

I LOVE IT! GREAT DEBUT, GM BRAD STEVENS!

I'm bummed to give up the 16th pick obviously, but Moses Brown is great value for that -- he can step in and do a lot of good things for us right away.

And Horford is going to be so good for us. And THE ERA OF TINY SCORE-FIRST POINT GUARDS IS OVER!!!!! (thanks for all you did Kemba, sorry it didn't work out, enjoy your cash) Don't get cute. Just resign Smart next summer. His destiny is to be the next Dennis Johnson for us.

Smart/Fournier/JB/JT/Al
PP/Nesmith/Romeo/Grant/RW
= come at me bro

Now trade Tristan for a late 1st so we can pick one of my draft binkies please:) (Roko -- seriously, give up whatever we need to to get that dude)

[jumblin]

The Celtics are better team now, but this is a bad trade.

Horford is a washed up big who probably would have been bought out. To trade ANYTHING to get him is an overspend, to trade a mid first and 20ppg guard is absurd.

Brad saw Kemba's frailty, his lack of balls in the big moment, and the overall beta mindset of the team and knew he needed to make a move. But the rest of the league doesn't know all that. Kemba is worth more than this.

That said, the Celtics are better today because Horford brings an adult mindset to the room with his quiet alpha presence, and that was the single biggest issue with the team last year.

[Jingles]

It should, every trade should solely be evaluated with did it make the team better today and better in the next 2 years because Tatum has his finger on the trade demand button as soon as his max kicks in.

Yesterday they had almost no ability or flexibility to bring in another star via trade in a way that made sense. Today they do. And the defense just got better by default, so, yeah, it fits your criteria.

So brining in sub 30 games a year, 35 year old Horford, who the year prior Philly paid a 1rst just to get off their team, and losing the #16 pick means now we've improved our trade package for a star?

The difference between today and yesterday is the owners avoid luxury tax and the Celtics franchise lost the #16 pick.

Not sure how you can mental gymnastics it to mean we just improved our assets for a star but hey good for you.

Do you remember when we traded the 7th pick and Raef for Sebastian freaking Telfair and Theo Ratliff’s Expiring Contract? Same deal. The mental gymnastics are ignoring the context of this move.

[Ill News]

double post

[lon3lytoaster]

Super surprised to see this on my feed this morning! Al is a terrific leader and glad to have him back. We very, very badly needed to find a way to get out of Kemba and I think it was Sherrod who made a good point.. Danny most likely wouldn't have gotten it done because of over negotiating.

Biggest win of the trade would, from an outsider's perspective, seem to be that GMs may actually deal with Brad Stevens where we know they wouldn't with Danny at the end.