Boston agreed to send All-Star point guard Kemba Walker, the 16th pick in this year’s NBA draft and a 2025 second-round selection to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Al Horford, Moses Brown and a 2023 second-round pick, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
It is unusual for any trade to happen before next week’s NBA combine, let alone one this significant. But Stevens has a long-standing relationship with Thunder general manager Sam Presti, and the deal accomplished key objectives for both franchises.
The Celtics get significant financial flexibility as Stevens tries to retool the roster around young stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Walker is owed roughly $73 million over the next two years, while Horford is owed $53 million — $41 million guaranteed — over the same two years.
That flexibility will give Boston the potential capability to re-sign guard Evan Fournier, whom they acquired at this year’s trade deadline and who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, while also reuniting the Celtics with Horford, who spent three years with them before signing his current deal with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2019.
Oklahoma City, on the other hand, is continuing to acquire draft capital as it rebuilds its roster around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder have three first-round picks in this year’s draft: their own, Boston’s, and either the fifth pick or the 18th pick, depending on whether Oklahoma City gets Houston‘s top-4-protected first-rounder after Tuesday’s NBA draft lottery. The Thunder now have 18 first-round picks over the next seven drafts.
The trade also continues a consistent trend under Presti for Oklahoma City to work with players to find them a suitable new home, something he has done with Chris Paul, Danny Green and now Horford after acquiring all three within the past several months.
Oklahoma City will work with Walker in a similar fashion, sources said.