Free Agency 2019: Kemba Walker the target or who else?

[vjcsmoke]

So the Celtics are working on freeing cap space to go after a free agent.  Kemba Walker would make a lot of sense to help replace the void left by Kyrie Irving.

Pros and Cons?  Who should Danny Ainge target in this years free agent market?

Kemba has been to three straight all-star games and would give the Celtics veteran leadership at the point as well as an offensive focus.

Last season was his best at 25 ppg and 6 assists per game.
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/walkeke02.html

I'm scared to rely just on Brown and Tatum next year.  So get on the K Walker train or do you have a better target in mind for Danny and the Celtics?

2019 top 20 free agents:
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2019-nba-free-agency-top-20-available-players-start-date-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-free-agent-market/

[bopna]

I want bigs.

Time to give the kids the keys. Smart, the Js and GH will already have enough shots. Utah Hayward will never emerge if we have a ball dominant type player aka Kemba, Kyrie, Westbrick, or James Harden type players.

[Jiri Welsch]

I want bigs also. If we sign Kemba, I find it hard to believe Brown will be on the team at the start of next season.

[BringToughnessBack]

Lower tier pg Mudiay is now available as no qualifying offer was given. Better second tier then Rubio would be? Still only 22 years old.

https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/news/knicks-emmanuel-mudiay-not-extended-qualifying-offer/

[keevsnick]

I want bigs also. If we sign Kemba, I find it hard to believe Brown will be on the team at the start of next season.

I find it hard to believe he wouldn't be. Everybody who wants to trade Jaylen for a big, you do realize you need to salary match right? Jaylen doesn't make enough on his own to bring back a big who is good enough that you would trade Jaylen for him in the first place. The one exception is Sabonis, who is still on his rookie deal but the Pacers have shown no sign of trading him. Meanwhile brining in Kemba means Rozier and Morris have been renounced and Kyrie is gone. Assuming Kemba takes Kyries minutes you still have almost 55+ minutes of rotation guys that need replacing, Jaylen will be needed.

[shut_the_gate]

So the Celtics are working on freeing cap space to go after a free agent.  Kemba Walker would make a lot of sense to help replace the void left by Kyrie Irving.

Pros and Cons?  Who should Danny Ainge target in this years free agent market?

Kemba has been to three straight all-star games and would give the Celtics veteran leadership at the point as well as an offensive focus.

Last season was his best at 25 ppg and 6 assists per game.
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/walkeke02.html

I'm scared to rely just on Brown and Tatum next year.  So get on the K Walker train or do you have a better target in mind for Danny and the Celtics?

2019 top 20 free agents:
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2019-nba-free-agency-top-20-available-players-start-date-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-free-agent-market/

I believe that 40% of the NBA is off contract, there are amazing players that are lower tier free agent

- Brook Lopez
- Danny Green
- Nikola Mirotic
- Jonas Valanciunas
- Thaddeus Young
- Enes Kanter
- Trevor Ariza
- Austin Rivers
- Kenneth Faried
- Dewayne Dedmon
- Seth Curry
- Kevon Looney
- DeMarre Carroll
- Mike Scott
- Thabo Sefolosha
- Quinn Cook
- Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
- Joakim Noah
- Iman Shumpert
- Omri Casspi
- Marcin Gortat
- Jordan Bell
- Luc Mbah a Moute
- Patrick McCaw

[LilRip]

I want bigs also. If we sign Kemba, I find it hard to believe Brown will be on the team at the start of next season.

I find it hard to believe he wouldn't be. Everybody who wants to trade Jaylen for a big, you do realize you need to salary match right? Jaylen doesn't make enough on his own to bring back a big who is good enough that you would trade Jaylen for him in the first place. The one exception is Sabonis, who is still on his rookie deal but the Pacers have shown no sign of trading him. Meanwhile brining in Kemba means Rozier and Morris have been renounced and Kyrie is gone. Assuming Kemba takes Kyries minutes you still have almost 55+ minutes of rotation guys that need replacing, Jaylen will be needed.

Someone before mentioned Myles Turner. He can shoot from deep and block a ton of shots. We’d still be a poor rebounding team though.

[soulman]

So the Celtics are working on freeing cap space to go after a free agent.  Kemba Walker would make a lot of sense to help replace the void left by Kyrie Irving.

Pros and Cons?  Who should Danny Ainge target in this years free agent market?

Kemba has been to three straight all-star games and would give the Celtics veteran leadership at the point as well as an offensive focus.

Last season was his best at 25 ppg and 6 assists per game.
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/walkeke02.html

I'm scared to rely just on Brown and Tatum next year.  So get on the K Walker train or do you have a better target in mind for Danny and the Celtics?

2019 top 20 free agents:
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2019-nba-free-agency-top-20-available-players-start-date-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-free-agent-market/

I believe that 40% of the NBA is off contract, there are amazing players that are lower tier free agent

- Brook Lopez
- Danny Green
- Nikola Mirotic
- Jonas Valanciunas
- Thaddeus Young
- Enes Kanter
- Trevor Ariza
- Austin Rivers
- Kenneth Faried
- Dewayne Dedmon
- Seth Curry
- Kevon Looney
- DeMarre Carroll
- Mike Scott
- Thabo Sefolosha
- Quinn Cook
- Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
- Joakim Noah
- Iman Shumpert
- Omri Casspi
- Marcin Gortat
- Jordan Bell
- Luc Mbah a Moute
- Patrick McCaw

Kevon Looney is a great player, i would sign him.

[slamtheking]

So the Celtics are working on freeing cap space to go after a free agent.  Kemba Walker would make a lot of sense to help replace the void left by Kyrie Irving.

Pros and Cons?  Who should Danny Ainge target in this years free agent market?

Kemba has been to three straight all-star games and would give the Celtics veteran leadership at the point as well as an offensive focus.

Last season was his best at 25 ppg and 6 assists per game.
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/walkeke02.html

I'm scared to rely just on Brown and Tatum next year.  So get on the K Walker train or do you have a better target in mind for Danny and the Celtics?

2019 top 20 free agents:
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2019-nba-free-agency-top-20-available-players-start-date-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-free-agent-market/

I believe that 40% of the NBA is off contract, there are amazing players that are lower tier free agent

- Brook Lopez
- Danny Green
- Nikola Mirotic
- Jonas Valanciunas
- Thaddeus Young
- Enes Kanter
- Trevor Ariza
- Austin Rivers
- Kenneth Faried
- Dewayne Dedmon
- Seth Curry
- Kevon Looney
- DeMarre Carroll
- Mike Scott
- Thabo Sefolosha
- Quinn Cook
- Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
- Joakim Noah
- Iman Shumpert
- Omri Casspi
- Marcin Gortat
- Jordan Bell
- Luc Mbah a Moute
- Patrick McCaw

I'm a bit skeptical of signing Kemba -- without Big Al, what would be the point?  we're not contending with Kemba and no all-star caliber big man.

having said that, IF they do sign Kemba, we still need to fill that front court.  If we had the cap room left, I'd kick the tires on Thad Young (always liked his game and he's a pro's pro) and either Kanter or Dedmon as a center. 

what I think will actually happen is we won't sign Kemba but use that cap space to take in Steve Adams and a pick or two from OKC.  That solves our starting C issue for 2 years and his deal comes off the books the same season as Hayward.   I'd still kick the tires on Thad Young but we should have an easier time finding a decent PG as a FA with cap room than a big man.

[Surferdad]

...
I'm scared to rely just on Brown and Tatum next year.  So get on the K Walker train ...

This is a risky business.  I don't see why signing Walker is the automatic solution to a fear that the Jays won't pan out.  Accept the fear and move forward.  If they take a step forward, then you are looking at signing their extensions.  I certainly don't want to commit $140M to Walker.  Is he better than Kyrie?  If he's about the same level or a bit lower, then it makes no sense to put so many eggs in that basket.

[droopdog7]

Isn’t kemba essentially another kyrie?  How would he fit I with Tatum and jaylen?  Not that I think we should only be focused on those two guys, but I certainly don’t want a repeat of last year.

[iadera]

[Sketch5]

Isn’t kemba essentially another kyrie?  How would he fit I with Tatum and jaylen?  Not that I think we should only be focused on those two guys, but I certainly don’t want a repeat of last year.

He HAD to be the focus of his team because every one else wasnt good and they stull sniffed the playoffs every year. Hornets only won 10 less than the Cs and just missed the playoffs.

Plus hes a solid locker room guy and has never won. Hes going to be motivated

[td450]

Isn’t kemba essentially another kyrie?  How would he fit I with Tatum and jaylen?  Not that I think we should only be focused on those two guys, but I certainly don’t want a repeat of last year.

What would have happened if Kyrie was slightly less efficient last year, but responded to coaching direction, picked up the pace and movement, and was a positive influence in the locker room.

I think things would have been very different. We'd all be thinking happier thoughts right now. Kyrie without the bad stuff sounds pretty good to me.

My primary concern is how we address replacing Horford and Baynes. It seems to me the bargain to be had is Capela. I like Kemba, but it's hard to see how Kemba and an afterthought at center beats Capela and perhaps someone like Brogdon. Ainge must have a plan for center. I can't believe he's just going to worry about it later.

[iadera]

Kemba will fit very nice into the Brad's system. Love the guy. Very calm character, great team-player but cold-blooded executer when on court. Now we need a rim protector. Could we get Drummond somehow?