Celtics news & rumors: Kemba takes blame; second run at Myles Turner

It’s official folks, the Boston Celtics are a complete disaster, and something needs to change soon, very soon or they can just forget about being a factor in the 2020-21 NBA playoff picture.  Kemba Walker is one of the players taking blame for the team’s flat performances as of late.

Following a very disappointing 107-96 loss to the Sacramento Kings Friday night at TD Garden, the Celtics are below .500 again and gasping for air just to even make the post-season.

So, while Brad Stevens is fending off hot rumors about whether or not he is taking his coaching talents back to the college level, his All-Star players are trying to figure out how to get the fun back in their flow and how to get the energy back as a complete team.

One of those players is obviously Walker, a competitor on the court who feels he needs to bring the energy every night, which will rub off on his teammates.

"“I’ve got to be there all times, you know, and this showed,” Walker said following the game, as transcribed by NESN.  “Whenever I’m not upbeat, whenever I’m not bringing energy, you know, we’re just a whole different team.”"

Boston Celtics are a dead team walking

With young All-Stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown struggling with leadership on the court, Walker knows he has to be that guy.  Whether it is picking the team up when they are down or simply inspiring encouragement for a team sleepwalking through the regular season.

Whatever it will take for the 2020-21 Celtics to wake up, Walker seems willing to do.  But is the rest of the team willing to do it?  Is Tatum and Brown ready to take that next step as All-Star game changers or is the team waiting for Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge to shake things up via trade?

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That may be what it actually takes because just a few games after the All-Star break, this team is still dead and showing no signs of waking up as teams they should beat handily are showing them how the game of basketball is actually played with an injection of energy and fun.

NBA trade rumors: Teams calling regarding Myles Turner

Here we go with the Myles Turner rumors again, but with the Indiana Pacers struggling, perhaps it is time for Danny Ainge to join teams calling about the availability of the young big man prior to the NBA Trade Deadline.

According to the Indianapolis Star, the Pacers are not shopping Turner, but teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and New York Knicks have drawn interest and we all know the Celtics have been linked to Turner the last couple seasons, most recently prior to the season when they were trying to work a deal for Gordon Hayward.

If the Celtics couldn’t get a deal done back then, why would Indiana entertain one now?

Seeing how this season has turned out, perhaps Ainge is willing to give a lot more to make his team better now.

Turner, who is averaging 13.2 points and 6.6 rebounds through 36 games, would make this Celtics team much better.

Now only is he a younger big man who can stretch the floor, he rebounds and protects the rim. It is mostly his defensive presence that the team needs so if there is a possibility the Pacers could move him, Ainge should finagle a way to get this deal done.

If a team like the Lakers or Clippers sway a deal, fingers will once again point at Ainge for not being aggressive enough to make the team better.