The Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics both saw their 2020-21 NBA seasons end earlier than they were expecting. Now, change is inevitable for both storied franchises. In fact, the changes have already begun for the Celtics.
They surprised the NBA world when General Manager Danny Ainge stepped down from his position. Shortly after that, they shocked the NBA world when Brad Stevens was announced as the team’s new President of Basketball Operations.
That’s for a different story, though (I recommend this one if interested in why Stevens is the right man for the Job in Boston).
More from Pippen Ain't Easy
- The dream starting 5 for the Chicago Bulls 5 years from now
- Bulls’ Ayo Dosunmu inspires the future with new school program
- Chicago Bulls NBA 2K24 full roster ratings, risers, and fallers
- Bulls sign a pair of promising guards to Exhibit 10 contracts
- When does NBA Training Camp start? Dates Bulls fans need to know
Our focus is on the Chicago Bulls and what steps can be taken to return the franchise to contending status in the NBA. That’s where the link is between the two teams. The Bulls are in need of an upgrade at point guard and the Celtics seem on their way to a split with Kemba Walker.
People have linked the two situations, naturally. Walker is a well-known name and a good basketball player when healthy. If you only look at the Bulls need for a point guard and only consider the fact that Walker is a point guard the thought makes sense.
I am here to say it is not that simple. Not only would a trade for Kemba be a colossal mistake for the franchise, but it would also be quite concerning for the outlook of the Bulls front office.
All the optimism fans rightfully have in this leadership group would be washed away. It’s a bad move for a number of reasons and would inevitably set the franchise back long term instead of moving them forward long term.
Chicago Bulls: Why it Would be a Colossal Mistake to Trade for Kemba Walker
First and foremost, the obvious. Walker is an undersized point guard that is 31 years old. Despite the significant talent he has as a player, there’s no way to justify paying him $36,016,200 for the upcoming season.
Making matters worse, he has a player option for the following season at $37,653,300. You can lock in him picking up that option regardless of where he is playing.
The age and money should be enough to steer the Bulls away, but if it isn’t, there is more. Walker is coming off an injury-riddled season in which he played a career-low 43 games. He was a non-factor in the playoffs for the Celtics, as well.
Wrapping things up is the last and potentially most significant reason to avoid him. He is simply a bad fit alongside Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic.
He struggles defensively like the Bulls two all-stars and putting them all in one starting unit would lead to bad defensive performances. His offense wouldn’t help cancel that out, either.
Despite his skillset on that end, he would be the Bulls third-best scorer. Scoring is what he does best, so limiting his opportunities would be no help. He is far from the traditional point guard the Bulls need alongside LaVine, Vooch and Patrick Williams.
Kemba still has some production left in the tank and is a good player when healthy. That doesn’t make him a fit for the Bulls just because he happens to be a point guard. The Bulls can’t mess up this off-season and trading for Kemba Walker would be a colossal mistake on their part.