KEMBA TRADE ANALYSIS

UPSYDE SPORTS PRESENTS:

BREAKING DOWN THE KEMBA TRADE:

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER RECEIVES: KEMBA WALKER, 2021 1ST ROUND (#16), 2025 2ND ROUND

BOSTON RECEIVES: AL HORFORD, MOSES BROWN, 2023 2ND ROUND

My overreaction trade grades might have been extreme. On the surface, this looks like a clear fleece job by the Oklahoma City. Sam Presti seems to be playing 4D Chess and is essentially playing NBA 2K in real life. That being said, the trade makes sense for both parties for a lot of reasons. My clear dislike of the trade is rooted in thinking that Kemba Walker's value should have been a lot higher.

OKLAHOMA CITY - This was a no-brainer yes for the Thunder. They receive a veteran presence that they can hopefully groom into a Chris Paul type flip. Just to rehash - they traded Chris Paul to get Kelly Oubre (flipped for a protected 1st and 2nd from Golden State), Ricky Rubio (flipped for Aleksej Pokuševski and a future 2nd from Minnesota), Ty Jerome, Jalen Lecque (flipped for a future 2nd from Indiana), and a protected 2022 1st from Phoenix.

Oklahoma City is not only receiving Kemba Walker, they are getting another 1st round pick in this excellent draft and a future second round pick. As far as the rest of their roster, they were running with Moses Brown and not play Al Horford at all. They had made a trade for Tony Bradley earlier in the year, who I presume will be the starting center, unless they draft an elite guy or go small ball. This move in a vacuum would likely slide Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to the 2-guard spot, which could impact how they draft this summer. In my current Mock, I have them getting Jalen Green at 4, yet with these developments, it might be motivation for them to move up in the draft to get Evan Mobley, or knowing Sam Presti, move down to pick up additional assets.

BOSTON - Boston's motives are a lot more perplexing. The obvious reasoning was financial reasons. Kemba was oft-injured, clearly not as productive as his contract year in Charlotte, and despite only being 31 years old, that's basically 40 in guard years. His albatross of a contract was always going to be a tough one to move, but for a team that is not in a win-now mode, you can take a chance on him. As far as what they received in return, Al Horford was excellent for them during his tenure. He stretches the floor from the center position, hitting a career high in 3's made last year, and he was well rested toward the end of the season. A veteran presence that already has rapport with Brown and Tatum is a pretty smart move. He was an odd fit in Philadelphia, but Boston makes a lot more sense.

They further bolster their center depth by bringing in Moses Brown, who was recently signed long term on a cheap contract. He's a huge center that can bang with guys like Ayton and Embiid, but is still raw and somewhat limited. Time Lord seems like the odd man out as he can't stay healthy, so he might be the next player moved as Boston tries to capitalize on their incredible wing duo. Boston will look to complete its roster with veteran minimum players, or continue making moves. This is Brad Stevens' first move as GM, so we will see if this is the groundwork for a larger trade or his big move this summer.

- Adam Safianow - NBA Analyst - Upsyde Sports [Copyright 2021]

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

DALLAS SUMMER LEAGUE

UPSYDE SPORTS PRESENTS: DALLAS SUMMER LEAGUE PROSPECTS: Derrick Alston Jr - SF/PF - A solid G-League prospect that averaged close to 20 PPG and some potential as a stretch shooter from the 4-spot. He is an above average passer and a good free throw shooter. From the eye test he does not appear to be an explosive athlete but he's a hard finisher and is often relied on to defend multiple positions. He could be useful down the line, but I don't see him being able to get minutes on a competing team. Grade: C- Marcus Bingham Jr - C/PF - Outside of Hardy, he might be the crowned jewel of this group. He's a true 7-footer, came from a solid college program, and showed improvement every year at Michigan State. His defense is much further along than his offense, but his efficiency has improved over time and he's added a 3-ball to his game. Foul trouble will be a major concern, but I think he could be a bench big within a year or two. His block rate is outstanding and I think if h...
Read more
UPSYDE SPORTS PRESENTS: CAN THE PELICANS MAKE THE PLAYOFFS? This article comes in the midst of the Pelicans being on a 4-game win streak. The Kings which got hot, finally ended their streak. Nuggets, Grizzlies, and Rockets seems to be in a slump. I wouldn't say the door is open for them, but there's at least a window. What has propelled this team? A lot. Let's start with the obvious. Zion and Ingram have played very well. During the win streak, Zion has scored 23.8 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 5.8 APG, and 1.3 BPG. Ingram has averaged 25.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 4.8 APG, and 1.8 BPG. While these numbers don't jump off the page, what's interesting from both players is the increased amount of passing. Everyone on these team seems to be getting involved in the offense, nobody on this team is selfish, and it's just a group effort in every facet of the game. The next player that has done phenomenal has been Lonzo Ball. He's almost the forgotten Ball brother since his younger brother, La...
Read more
UPYSDE SPORTS PRESENTS: Addressing the Viability of a Kristaps Trade: I myself, have been very critical of Kristaps. Ranging from his health, finding him overrated as a shooter, not assertive enough on offense, and feeling that his defensive stats are empty. Obviously, I can see his upside, it's the name of my blog, but I feel like he plays out of position, is too thin, and his biggest strength (his size), is also likely going to be what limits his potential. Now, I gave him time. When the trade happened originally, I was pretty excited. He was coming off an injury, but had a really nice All-Star season in New York. Most Mavs fans, myself included, had somewhat soured on Dennis Smith Jr, and we saw what Luka is - a superstar. Wanting to get some wins in his rookie contract, I was receptive of the trade. Tank for the rest of the season and then the following year we get the two Euro sensations. Didn't quite work out that way. He did play very well in the bubble - helping us get ...
Read more