Should the Lakers trade for Thunder’s Kemba Walker?

Kemba Walker became the newest member of the Oklahoma City Thunder after the Boston Celtics traded him for Al Horford and Moses Brown.

The Celtics also sent its 2021 first-round pick and a 2025 second-round pick to the Thunder. Oklahoma City shipped a 2023 second-round pick to Boston.

For the Celtics, the 2020-21 season ended in disappointment. It finished the season as the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference as injuries and setbacks became prevalent.

Acquiring Horford supplies the roster with a floor-spacing center that can anchor the paint on defense. Brown is a young center that hasn’t looked great defensively, but there’s optimism he can transform his tools and become a solid player.

But for the Thunder, acquiring Walker doesn’t make much sense for its roster construction. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the starter, and Theo Maledon could develop into a promising backup if his shot cleans up.

The first-round pick Oklahoma City received is the biggest prize. The Thunder have hoarded just about every draft pick possible, and keeping Walker — who is a win-now player — takes away developmental reps for the youngsters.

If Oklahoma City calls teams for a Walker trade, one team has already been suggested, according to Marc Spears of ESPN:

If the Lakers trade for Walker, the first question both teams must answer is do the contracts work out?

Walker is owed $36 million next season and over $37 million in 2022-23 before he becomes a free agent.

The only players the Lakers can include in a deal are Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Kyle Kuzma. Montrezl Harrell has a pending player option that would work if he exercises it, and Dennis Schroder is entering free agency. Schroder would have to agree to a sign-and-trade deal to return to his former team.

Assuming the Thunder accept any combination of those players — and OKC can always trade them again as it has done several times recently — including a draft pick would be likely.

The Lakers have the 22nd overall pick in this year’s draft, which OKC could seek in a possible trade.

Salary-wise, the contracts match. But is Walker the type of player the Lakers need right now while the LeBron James-Anthony Davis championship window is open?

The Lakers desperately needed a reliable third option behind James and Davis, and Walker could slot into that role.

Walker had a usage rate of 27.6 percent, good for the 70th percentile in his position, per Cleaning the Glass. That rate trailed only Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in Boston this season.

Walker would have a similar role in L.A. He could initiate plays as the primary ball-handler — he took 15.7 shots per game this season, which would trail James and Davis if he played for L.A. — and be a spot-up player, too.

Per NBA’s stats, Walker averaged 3.1 possessions as a spot-up shooter. He ranked in the 88th percentile with an eFG percentage of 66.5. Among players who averaged at least three spot-up possessions, Walker placed 10th in the league.

The 31-year-old guard could make Los Angeles’ offense more dynamic as a multi-level scorer — though his 35.1 percent clip on mid-range jumpers leaves much to be desired — which L.A. could benefit from.

Last season, L.A. just didn’t have enough players not named James or Davis who could create offense. Schroder had his moments during the regular season, but his shooting efficiency declined and how he folded in the playoffs left a sour taste.

But another major concern besides Walker’s loaded contract is his health. From 2015 to 2019, Walker played in 322 out of 328 games. Since joining Boston, he’s played in 99 out of 154 games.

Walker’s age is trending in the wrong side of 30, and if he can’t remain healthy — which has been a major problem for L.A. — then a possible trade would damage Los Angeles’ title chances and financial books while the window is still open.

Though Walker to L.A. is speculation at this stage, Kyle Lowry is reportedly another target on the radar. But if the Lakers pull the trigger on Walker, it could either work out tremendously or ruin the hopes of winning a title soon.

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