Signing Kemba Walker was never the Celtics’ plan. Kyrie Irving was supposed to stay in Boston for the foreseeable future, as he said he would; Anthony Davis might follow, setting up the franchise for a decade; Al Horford was expected back, Gordon Hayward would return closer to form, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown would continue apace, and the Celtics would have claim to the Eastern Conference. The only reason Walker is involved is because the fabric of those intentions came undone.
Irving is gone. Davis is a Laker. Horford, having declined his option for next season, appears set on signing elsewhere.