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Boston Celtics to trade Kemba Walker to Oklahoma City Thunder

Boston Celtics guard Kemba Walker is headed to the Oklahoma City Thunder as part of a trade that involves three players and three draft picks. Photo by Justin Lane/EPA-EFE
Boston Celtics guard Kemba Walker is headed to the Oklahoma City Thunder as part of a trade that involves three players and three draft picks. Photo by Justin Lane/EPA-EFE

June 18 (UPI) -- Brad Stevens made his first major move as the president of the Boston Celtics on Friday, agreeing to trade star guard Kemba Walker to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Sources told ESPN, The Athletic and USA Today Sports that the Celtics agreed to trade Walker, the No. 16 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft and a 2025 second-round pick to the Thunder.

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In exchange, the Thunder agreed to send centers Al Horford and Moses Brown and a 2023 second-round pick to the Celtics.

Walker, 31, joined the Celtics in a 2019 trade from the Charlotte Hornets. The four-time All-Star averaged 19.3 points, 4.9 assists and four rebounds per game in 43 starts this season. Walker battled injuries throughout the last two seasons.

Walker is under contract for the next two seasons, with a $37.6 million player option in 2022-23. His $34.3 million salary in 2020-21 was the highest among Celtics players.

Horford is under contract for the next two seasons. Brown is signed through 2022-23, with a team option in 2023-24.

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Horford, 35, averaged 14.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 28 starts this season for the Thunder. He joined the team in a December trade from the Philadelphia 76ers.

The five-time All-Star played for the Celtics from 2016-17 through 2018-19. Horford spent his five nine seasons with the Atlanta Hawks.

Brown, 21, averaged 8.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game in 43 appearances this season for the Thunder.

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