Kemba Walker talk is smoke - give Marcus Smart the reins - sign a big

We are coming down to the wire! Free agency begins at 6:00 PM ET this Sunday, June 30, 2019. We see info that the Celtics are a "stealth suitor" for Kemba Walker. Last I knew, stealth connotes caution and secrecy. So why are we seeing this news? Smoke is used by police and the military to obscure other actions. My belief is smoke-from-Danny-Ainge is what we are seeing. I feel the point guard situation is well in hand. What the Celtics need is the addition of a big man - and soon.

The Celtics, I'm told, are emerging as a stealth suitor for Charlotte Hornets free agent Kemba Walker

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 25, 2019

Survival, in the NBA and life generally, is all about adapting to changing circumstances. Two All-Stars, Kyrie Irving and Al Horford, are all but out the door. Boston went small in the recent draft, picking up three present-or-future point guard possibilities, and if the need is there, Isaiah Thomas and Shane Larkin are out there. But right now, the team has Marcus Smart to take the point guard reins.

Marcus Smart told me today in an exclusive sit-down with @celtics that he plans to come back a different player next year. He was motivated to make this change after having felt he could have done more last season. He plans to be very hands on with the young players.

— Amanda_Pflugrad (@Amanda_Pflugrad) June 25, 2019

The Celtics can't have both. They can't add both a high-priced point guard and big man. They need to choose. We will definitely see more of Rob Williams this season, but he was little-used last year, and most likely not totally prepared to be thrust into a key role. The names of Steven Adams and Nikola Vucevic have been tossed out there. There is a glut of bigs out there in the free agent market, including DeMarcus Cousins, Marc Gasol, Brook Lopez, DeAndre Jordan, Jonas Valanciunas, Willie Cauley-Stein, Enes Kanter, Thomas Bryant, Robin Lopez, Ed Davis..

When the smoke clears, I believe we will see the signing of a free agent big man. And it very-likely could come out of the blue - a name we had not heard much in connection with the Celtics. That is what Ainge does. Expect the unexpected. Things will be quite clear once the smoke dissipates.

Follow Tom at @CelticsSentinel and Facebook

Image via NBC Sports Boston