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Paul Pierce # 34 and Kendrick Perkins # 43 of the Boston Celtics laugh in the first game of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2008 NBA Playoffs.
The Boston Celtics need some kind of roster overhaul. The media know. The fans know. Hell, even Danny Ainge knows. The basketball operations team president recently admitted this on an appearance at 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Toucher and Rich. « We’ll definitely try to make changes in the off-season, » said Ainge. « Of course I can’t go into any of these details, but there will be some changes. How important? I don’t know yet, we’ll see. »
While Ainge was understandably unwilling to share public information about certain roster sales, Former Celtics Champion Kendrick Perkins isn’t afraid to share his dime on what should happen in Beantown this off-season.
« Hey, Danny Ainge and Celtics fans, I know this may hurt you all but it’s time to get rid of Kemba Walker and leave Marcus Smart, « Perkins said on ESPN’s SportsNation.
» And Danny Ainge – I’m not saying he should lose his job – but I know he’s in this one Off-season should take some steps that every player on this team is involved in if your name isn’t Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum, « added Perkins.
This wouldn’t be the first time the former 14-year-old NBA Be a veteran n Ex-team asks to cut ties with Walker and Smart. Perk had been an advocate for the latter for much of Smart’s seven-year run in Boston. However, Celtics’ disappointing 2020-21 campaign has caused Perkins to change their attitude towards the 27-year-old.
« I think Marcus Smart has completed his course, » Perkins recently stated on Celtics Pregame Live. “I think the boys are fed up with hearing his voice in the locker room. I think the guys are fed up with him being badly advised at times and making some of his sales. “
Perkins originally hit the table for a Kemba trade in late February, claiming that he no longer saw the point guard » fit « . Walker has increased his game tenfold since Perkins’ original statement. The 31-year-old has been looking like his old self lately – albeit healthy and made available.
The four-time All-Star averages 19.3 points at 42.0% from the field this season while he steps in with 4.9 assists and 4.0 rebounds. With Jaylen Brown on the mend, Walker has responded to a bigger role, losing more than 32 points in three of his last four games.
We understand Walker is the obvious first name that comes up in Celtics trade talks when you don’t want to dangle stars like Brown and Jayson Tatum. He certainly has the production, awards, and naming power that would normally attract potential applicants. The reasons people like Perkins want to pull away from Walker are the same why other teams would be reluctant to pull the trigger on a deal.
On the wrong side of 30, Walker has a lot against himself. An undersized Guardian (6 feet, 184 pounds) with knee problems (29 games missed this season) and inconsistent reach of deep (36.0% career 3 point percentage). All of this would give teams a break, and that’s before we even mention the biggest limitation in the game – his monstrous $ 141 million contract. Walker will be owed more than $ 36 million each for the next two seasons.
While the Celtics may buy in their seasoned point guard, there are probably just too many outliers to consider Boston for one player which is still highly productive in its lineup.
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