Who adds more, Valentine or Kemba?

[Roy H.]

Which player is more likely to have a positive influence on the Celtics, Denzel Valentine or Kemba Walker?  Who is currently a better player?  Who is more reliable?

Per sources, the Pistons and Walker had agreed on a number, which was a few million less than what he’s owed. However, and this is just an *educated hunch,* Walker has yet to officially agree to the terms of the buyout because, well, a player usually takes a buyout when he’s sure that he can sign with another team and make up some of the money he gave back. So, if you read the tea leaves, it sounds like Walker is unsure that another team out there is interested in his services at this exact point in time. If that’s the case, Walker doesn’t have to take less money just to sit at home. Walker, instead, could force the Pistons to pay him everything he is owed, even if they just waive him on their own accord. To sum it all up in one sentence: It feels like Walker doesn’t have another team lined up right now and there is no point in him taking less money until he does. – via James L. Edwards III @ The Athletic

[liam]

Sadly I think it might be Denzel Valentine. I don't think either would see the floor but Valentine is still only 28.

[Goldstar88]

Sadly I think it might be Denzel Valentine. I don't think either would see the floor but Valentine is still only 28.

Agreed. Plus, the C’s have a bunch of 1/2’s already. Least Denzel can play the 3 and has decent size at 6’4”/210lbs.

I think Kemba is going to have trouble catching on with an NBA team, like IT did.

[Roy H.]

I think that the correct answer is probably that both add so little value that neither should be on the roster of an NBA contender.

Kemba at least adds leadership and good character.  I'm not sure what Valentine adds to a contender.

[CelticsWhat35]

Kemba but I don’t want either

[Csfan1984]

JD Davison, final answer.

[SHAQATTACK]

Kemba needs to sharpen his golf swing

[Moranis]

For a regular 5 minute type spot, I'd take Valentine, but if I needed a guy to play starter minutes every once in a while I'd prefer Kemba.

[liam]

For a regular 5 minute type spot, I'd take Valentine, but if I needed a guy to play starter minutes every once in a while I'd prefer Kemba.

I don't think Kemba is that guy anymore...

[sgrogan]

For a regular 5 minute type spot, I'd take Valentine, but if I needed a guy to play starter minutes every once in a while I'd prefer Kemba.

I don't think Kemba is that guy anymore...

He did have that "hot" streak last year the week leading up the Christmas. It started with 29 pts against us and finished with a triple double on Christmas day. He averaged over 40 mpg on that 4 game stretch.

[liam]

For a regular 5 minute type spot, I'd take Valentine, but if I needed a guy to play starter minutes every once in a while I'd prefer Kemba.

I don't think Kemba is that guy anymore...

He did have that "hot" streak last year the week leading up the Christmas. It started with 29 pts against us and finished with a triple double on Christmas day. He averaged over 40 mpg on that 4 game stretch.

Then The Knicks paid to get rid of him...

[Yuckabuck33]

For a regular 5 minute type spot, I'd take Valentine, but if I needed a guy to play starter minutes every once in a while I'd prefer Kemba.

I don't think Kemba is that guy anymore...

He did have that "hot" streak last year the week leading up the Christmas. It started with 29 pts against us and finished with a triple double on Christmas day. He averaged over 40 mpg on that 4 game stretch.

Then The Knicks paid to get rid of him...

Since we assume that the Nicks front office screws everything else up, why do we assume that their dropping Kemba was smart?
I saw a YouTube video from Coach Nick that dug into analytics and showed that the big problem last year for the Nicks was Randle.
Maybe people should stop running Kemba down? He certainly didn't screw us like Kyrie.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=c_5QckkpygQ

[liam]

For a regular 5 minute type spot, I'd take Valentine, but if I needed a guy to play starter minutes every once in a while I'd prefer Kemba.

I don't think Kemba is that guy anymore...

He did have that "hot" streak last year the week leading up the Christmas. It started with 29 pts against us and finished with a triple double on Christmas day. He averaged over 40 mpg on that 4 game stretch.

Then The Knicks paid to get rid of him...

Since we assume that the Nicks front office screws everything else up, why do we assume that their dropping Kemba was smart?
I saw a YouTube video from Coach Nick that dug into analytics and showed that the big problem last year for the Nicks was Randle.
Maybe people should stop running Kemba down? He certainly didn't screw us like Kyrie.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=c_5QckkpygQ

We also traded to get rid of him. Kemba did his best while in Boston but I think he's done.

[celticsclay]

I think that the correct answer is probably that both add so little value that neither should be on the roster of an NBA contender.

Kemba at least adds leadership and good character.  I'm not sure what Valentine adds to a contender.

Was Kembas leadership good here? It seemed like we were kind of excited to get rid of him for Al’s leadership

[sgrogan]

For a regular 5 minute type spot, I'd take Valentine, but if I needed a guy to play starter minutes every once in a while I'd prefer Kemba.

I don't think Kemba is that guy anymore...

He did have that "hot" streak last year the week leading up the Christmas. It started with 29 pts against us and finished with a triple double on Christmas day. He averaged over 40 mpg on that 4 game stretch.

Then The Knicks paid to get rid of him...

Since we assume that the Nicks front office screws everything else up, why do we assume that their dropping Kemba was smart?
I saw a YouTube video from Coach Nick that dug into analytics and showed that the big problem last year for the Nicks was Randle.
Maybe people should stop running Kemba down? He certainly didn't screw us like Kyrie.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=c_5QckkpygQ

We also traded to get rid of him. Kemba did his best while in Boston but I think he's done.

My response was more along the lines of Moranis's post.
Kemba is certainly unreliable. But if he was a 14th man most of the time, he might provide a surprising contribution if pressed into duty.
Now I agree, once you start to count on him he would probably break down.
But he seems to be a good teammate and wouldn't cause problems.