Tag: Kemba Walker

REPORT: Celtics are Dark Horse Team for Kemba Walker

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With the constant flurry of “rumors” from all corners of the Web regarding pretty much every upcoming big-time free agent on this year’s market, it’s hard to decipher exactly which ones are even worth acknowledging anymore. Especially in today’s world of “me first” journalism, where anyone with a blog or a Twitter handle tries to be the first to report THE NEXT BIG BREAK, it’s easy for any Johnny Burger King to throw something out there at any time which gets the masses talking.

Remember a week and a half ago when everyone was absolutely convinced that Kyrie Irving was going to Brooklyn because he just so happened to sign with one of the world’s biggest entertainment firms which just so happens to be associated with a guy who just so happens to like the Nets a lot? (In case you missed it, here are my thoughts on that.)

Or when the Clippers were definitely getting Kawhi Leonard? Or when Kevin Durant was definitely going to be the savior for the New York Knicks? Or when poor Red’s heart was broken during the draft last week, when “sources” said there was no way the Celtics would let Bol Bol slip past No. 24 in the draft?

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Sorry, Red. It just wasn’t meant to be…

All I’m saying is that you have to take these reports for what they’re worth. And if you’ve noticed, we here at The 300s are very careful not to stake our claim on exactly where we believe any of these guys are going, because it’s honestly impossible to know for sure at this point. 

But that doesn’t mean we can’t at least talk about some of them… And with this little tweet today, I’ll be entirely honest in saying it’s tough not to get at least a little tingly:

*HEAVY BREATHING*

For starters, at least this is from one of the league’s top sources. Outside of the legendary Adrian Wojnarowski, there are very few out there with more credentials, connections, and sources than Marc Stein. In his career, he has worked for some of the absolute biggest outlets out there, including ESPN, The Dallas Morning News, Los Angeles Daily News, and now The New York Times. He also won the coveted Curt Gowdy Media Award this past February, which is the top honor given out by the Hall of Fame each year for “outstanding basketball writers and broadcasters.” So, I think it’s safe to say this little piece of info is in no way baseless.

Furthermore, it just makes so much sense. Kemba Walker is truly the perfect antidote to rid the organization of the toxicity which engulfed the entire franchise last season. I’m not going to blame it ALL on Kyrie (just the vast majority of it), but Kemba is literally like a Bizarro Kyrie in that he’s an All-NBA-level point guard but one that acts like a humble, undrafted rookie to this day. Stuck on mediocre to just outright bad Hornets teams for the past eight seasons, he’s done nothing but simply continue to put his head down and grind no matter what. Over the past four years, he’s averaged over 20 points – including 25.6 PPG in 2018-19, which is almost two points more than Kyrie did – and almost six assists per game, earning himself a Third Team All-NBA honor this past season. If it weren’t for such an epic free-agent class this summer – one which features a few potential H.O.F candidates – Kemba would likely be the belle of the ball.

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Don’t get it twisted: this dude is an absolute BALLER.

Is he is good as Kyrie? Nope. But is he that far off? Maybe not.

But what really makes me love Kemba is his other-wordly competitive fire. I will literally never forget the epic run he led during UConn’s national-title-winning season in 2011. For those that know me, I’m not a huge college hoops guy, but I was absolutely captivated by this relentless little sparkplug who just couldn’t be stopped. Kemba hasn’t always been the biggest, strongest, or most talented player on the court throughout his career, but he doesn’t seem to care. This dude succeeds off the hate and the doubt. He eats it up for breakfast and burns off the calories with a can’t-quit, non-stop attitude each and every night. No matter who he’s facing, you’re getting the same Kemba Walker every…damn…time.

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I will never forget how much fun I had watching that team for the rest of my life.

He would also fit in perfectly with the young core that will now be responsible for leading the Green into the future. Rather than hold back the careers of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown with selfish, hero ball and piss-poor leadership qualities, Kemba could really help them and the rest of the roster soar to incredible heights. While he has the ability to take over any game he wants, he doesn’t have an incessant need to do so – and that, my friends, is the key to winning, team basketball. (I’m not over-inflating his selfless attitude either; he won back-to-back NBA Sportsmanship Awards in 2017 and 2018, respectively, before Mike Conley took home the honors last night for the 2019 season.)

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Just imagine these two in the same uniform next season.

So, again, while you have to take any report this time of year with a grain of salt, and while we won’t know for sure where everyone will end up until they sign on that dotted line, it’s hard not to be happy and hopeful about this tweet. Not only does the team have the money to get this done, but they should be willing to do anything and EVERYTHING in their power to actually make it happen. Though it still ultimately rests on Kemba, who has no shortage of suitors – including Charlotte, whom he still apparently adores – Danny needs to turn on the charm and woo the 28-year-old to what could end up being the best opportunity of his career.

While most others will be dreaming of beaches, lake houses, hot dogs, and bonfires, there is nothing I want more this summer than a Kemba signing. Those are the fireworks I’m dying to see.

(Also, be sure to check in with The 300s later in the week for our upcoming NBA free-agency preview podcast!)

I am Absolutely DONE with Kyrie Irving

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Kyrie can seriously take a hike. No really. Get off my team, you FRAUD.

I couldn’t honestly care less about his poor shooting numbers for the past few games. That’s not what this is about. After all, he still put up 29 and then 23 points over the past two games, so it’s not as though he’s been useless. Sure, his defense has left a lot to be desired, but at least he hasn’t completely disappeared like Gordon Hayward. Even Jayson Tatum hasn’t played up to snuff after a great first round. And Terry Rozier?? YIKES.

But maybe the reason everyone seems to be playing so poorly and looking like they just watched their dog die on the court is because they have a selfish loser with the mentality of a toddler as their supposed “leader.”

A lot of people might think I’m overreacting, and the series technically isn’t over yet. But I don’t care, because after this little comment last night, I am officially done with Kyrie Irving:

Have you ever seen a more arrogant and egomaniacal response in your life? Seriously, that line is something that would probably make ole buddy LeBron blush.

OH, and I’m sorry, but they’re not coming back in this series. You really expect this team to win three straight with this jamoke and his piss-poor attitude leading the way? Please. They’ll be lucky to make it to the weekend.

I’m not trying to be negative, but I just feel so indignant right now as a Celtics fan. This was supposed to be OUR year, and instead we get treated to one of the most under-performing teams in Boston sports history. Is it all Kyrie’s fault? No. It isn’t. There’s a lot of blame to go around. But he barely did anything a true franchise guy is supposed to do to try and at least right the ship at any point this season.

Look, I was even willing to give Kyrie the benefit of the doubt earlier this year. While he was getting eviscerated in the media for being “too critical” of the younger guys on the team, I was one of the ONLY ones who said that guys like Jaylen Brown – who at least had the stones to clap back at him – were being too soft and DID need to step it up more. Sure, maybe Kyrie could have done it with a bit more tact, but with this being just his second year out of the shadow of LeBron, I thought perhaps he was still feeling his way out on how to become a leader.

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But see, the thing is, he’s not a leader. At all. He’s a completely self-absorbed crybaby that would rather get angry at the world when things go wrong then take a step back and look in the mirror. How, HOW can you respond with an answer like that after one of the worst three-game stretches of your career, in the Eastern Conference Semifinals no less? I respect the confidence, Kyrie, but even you can’t really believe the complete word vomit you’re spewing all over the media right now.

Before this week, I was willing to deal with Kyrie being a bit of a pill sometimes because he really is one of the elite talents in this league…when he wants to be. And in the NBA, you have to deal with some divas sometimes in order to win games. I get that.

But this??? Completely giving up and acting like a martyr when your team needs you most. Absolute LOSER move, and it looks like the true colors are finally starting to shine through. (It makes you think a little bit differently about how things really may have ended out in Cleveland, huh?)

Also, have you heard any teammates come out at all this year in support or to back him up? Don’t worry, I’ll wait…

Yeah, exactly.

If this team somehow shocks the world and goes on some epic run after this, I will literally eat a crow pie and post the video here on The 300s for all to see. But right now, I’m about ready to pack Kyrie’s bags and buy a plane ticket to New York for him. Or maybe L.A., so he can go running back to his old flame – who he now LOVES again by the way – because, to be quite frank, the King is the only reason he’s a “champion” to begin with.

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Awwwww. How adorable, huh??? (*BARF*)

Instead of re-signing Kyrie, give me somebody like Kemba Walker, an upcoming free agent this offseason who really isn’t all that much worse and one who cries in the locker room after losses. No, really, Kemba is someone who actually cares and could help to change the toxic culture that is engulfing this locker room right now. (Bleacher Report’s Yaron Weitzman wrote an excellent piece on Walker just last week, and he sounds like exactly the type of guy I want here. Like now.)

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This guy would look real good in green.

This one really hurt to write, Kyrie. It really did. I want to like you. I want you to be successful here, because you’ve got the insane talent and skill to truly be the next Celtics great. But the simple fact is you don’t want to be, and your time here is likely to come to a very bitter end in short order.