Brad Stevens is already making moves just two weeks after taking over as President of basketball operations for The Boston Celtics. A trade was announced Friday morning involving the Boston Celtics, and Oklahoma City Thunder agreed to a trade. Oklahoma City receives Kemba Walker, the 16th pick in the 2021 NBA draft and a 2025 second-round pick. Boston gets Al Horford, Moses Brown, and a 2023 second-round pick in return.
With this trade, Boston gets a significant amount of flexibility. Walker was owed $70 million over the next two years, and he had a $36 million player option. Horford is owed $53.3 million over the next two years, but only $41 million of that money is guaranteed. The Celtics can now sign back Evan Fournier or even go after a big name 2022 free agent.
Multiple sources around the NBA report that Oklahoma City in a similar fashion to that they did with Chris Paul and Danny green. Oklahoma City will likely look to move Walker on draft night as OKC has 7 draft picks. Walker doesn’t fit the Thunder’s timeline and youth movement.