NBA Trade News: Celtics Trade Kemba Walker to Thunder for Al Horford

Boston Celtics guard Kemba Walker has been traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder, courtesy of new President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens. Stevens, who took over from departed exec Danny Ainge after coaching the team for eight years, made his first move count by unloading a former All-Star who had started for his team for the past two seasons.

ESPN is reporting that the Celtics will send Walker, the 16th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, and a 2025 second-round pick to the Thunder for Al Horford, Moses Brown, and a 2023 second-round pick. The move will save the Celtics roughly $20 million in cap space over the next two years.

Walker averaged 19.3 points and 4.9 assists in 31.8 minutes per game this season over 43 appearances with the Celtics. He received an All-Star nod in 2019-20, his first year in Boston, but his acquisition did not transform the team the way that was hoped when the Celts acquired him in July of 2019 for guard Terry Rozier and a second-round pick. Rozier is currently averaging 20.4 points and 4.2 assists for the Charlotte Hornets.

The 34-year-old Horford averaged 14.2 points and 6.7 rebounds playing 27.9 minutes per game for the Thunder this season, but he appeared only 28 times.