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Bleacher Report likes what it sees from the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Kemba Walker/Al Horford trade.
The Thunder gained the No. 16 pick in the draft and a future second-rounder to take on Walker, who has dealt with knee issues the last two seasons but is a four-time All-Star.
In return, Oklahoma City sent the Boston Celtics centers Al Horford and Moses Brown along with a future second-round draft pick.
When reviewing the winners and losers of the trade, Bleacher Report indicated that OKC is a winner.
Analyst Andy Bailey wrote:
“Sam Presti is at the controls for one of the most impressive rebuilds the league has seen in recent years.”
Bleacher Report acknowledged that losing Brown is a blow, but the No. 16 pick in the 2021 draft shows promise whether the Thunder keep it or trade it.
“It may have been preferable to keep Brown, who was a rebounding machine in his second season, but the player picked 16th in 2021 could become more valuable.
That pick may also be more tradable in another deal before the draft. If the Thunder want to move up, a team ahead of them may be more interested in the theoretical value of No. 16 than in Brown.”
Surprisingly enough, this is a trade in which both teams come out as winners, Bailey said.
In his logic, Walker was undersized, oft-injured and on a big contract. Getting a big who has a lower usage rate and gaining financial flexibility are ideal.
“Moses Brown’s three-year, $5.5 million deal (with a team option for the last season) is also more cost-efficient than the rookie-scale salary for a No. 16 pick.
On almost all fronts, this is a win for Boston.”
Horford was also listed as a winner, given that he is now going to serve a good role on a competitive team.
Walker was listed as a loser, though Bailey acknowledged that if the guard plays well and is healthy, he would turn into a winner.
But what if he can’t prove he’s a good and healthy player?
“If that happens, Walker will be toiling away on a rebuilding team for likely the last couple of years of his prime.
A lot of prognostication is involved here, and Walker could bust all these talking points, but he may be this deal’s lone ‘loser.'”
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