Boston Celtics: 3 players most impacted by Kemba Walker blockbuster

The Kemba Walker experience is over.  After two seasons with the Boston Celtics, the veteran point guard was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Al Horford and young big man Moses Brown.

In a deal that also included an exchange of draft picks and more financial flexibility for Brad Stevens and the Celtics, it is a deal that has cast the spotlight on the point guard position for the team.

Although Kemba’s health last season prevented him from playing in back-to-back games, he was solid at the point guard position when he was healthy and on the court.

His scoring, along with his playmaking ability did help the offense function more smoothly, but again, Walker was not able to be out there on the court when it mattered.  While not having that third scorer and veteran leader out there on the court consistently during the regular season and playoffs hurt the Celtics, it also helped them.

Not only did Marcus Smart get more time running the show, but Kemba’s absence propelled the development of 2020 first-round pick Payton Pritchard, who shined during the early part of the season before Kemba’s return.

Along with Pritchard, second-year Celtics players like Tremont Waters and Carsen Edwards also got opportunities.  While Edwards was not able to take that next step, Waters did have some bright moments at the point guard position.

Through another trade or free agency, expect Stevens to address the point guard position externally, but who are the three players currently on the team who are most impacted by the Kemba Walker trade?

Let’s start with a player many Celtics fans may have forgot the team drafted.