Reports around NBA Twitter gave generally positive reviews to the Oklahoma City Thunder for their trade with the Boston Celtics that centered around Al Horford and Kemba Walker.
The Thunder received point guard Kemba Walker, the No. 16 pick in the 2021 draft and a 2025 second-round pick in exchange for center Al Horford, center Moses Brown and a 2023 second-round pick, the team announced on Friday morning.
In gaining Walker, Oklahoma City can hope to replicate the reclamation projected that was successful with Horford last season and Chris Paul the year before.
The first-round draft pick is the third that the Thunder currently own.
Here are some reactions from NBA reporters:
After Kemba trade, OKC projected to pick at 4, 16, 18, 35, 36, 55, + possibility Thunder steal Rockets pick if it drops to #5
— Jonathan Wasserman (@NBADraftWass) June 18, 2021
To clarify, if the Rockets’ pick drops to No. 5, the Thunder would not have pick No. 18.
First Horford, now Kemba: We’re going to brand this move — absorb a bad contract, rehabilitate the player and then move him for another distressed contract and a first round pick — the Sam Presti. As one exec texted, a Kemba-for-Porzingis swap next year seems inevitable.
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) June 18, 2021
Kemba Walker battled injuries last season, but he’s only 31. The Thunder added Chris Paul when he was 34 and Horford when he was 34 and was able to turn both around for future first (and second) round picks.
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) June 18, 2021
The Thunder traded Melo and a first for Dennis Schroder and then traded Schroder for Danny Green and a first and then traded Danny Green for Horford and a first and then traded Horford for Kemba and a first
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) June 18, 2021
How does Sam Presti keep getting away with this? 🤯 The man just traded Al Horford and Moses Brown for Kemba Walker, a first-rounder and a second-rounder 👏
He's really making the Thunder look like an All-Star point guard stopover 😂 pic.twitter.com/MFZg0TL6cP
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) June 18, 2021
From the Boston perspective of the deal:
Moses Brown's the key to this deal for Celtics. Horford returning is strong, but Moses better than what they could've expected w/ 16th pick & could be a future core part. And OKC…they just got done striking gold w/ CP3. Kemba could follow that formula. Plus ANOTHER 1st rounder!
— Andre Snellings (@ProfessorDrz) June 18, 2021
I strongly dislike this trade for Boston. Kemba is better than Horford and fits the team better. Yes, he makes more money, but giving up your 1st-round pick to get off of him for a worse player and similarly bad contract does not help.
— Jackson Frank (@jackfrank_jjf) June 18, 2021
Getting off that money really helps, though:
Celtics save $9 million in salary between Kemba + Al Horford next season.
Horford’s 2022-23 salary is only partially guaranteed, which gives the Celtics a bunch of options with how to proceed.
Essentially, path to adding a new third star is a bit easier
— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) June 18, 2021
Not only is that path a little easier, but the Celtics got below the luxury tax. It will put them in better position to re-sign Evan Fournier and use the MLE, though they will have to make other moves if they want to remain under the tax.
Check out MassLive for more detail on the merits of such a trade for Boston:
Proposed Kemba and No. 16 for Horford trade on MassLive last week with a full breakdown: https://t.co/obtqQx88W5 pic.twitter.com/6ytrqEiBno
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) June 18, 2021
