Celtics Still Among Eastern Conference Favorites Despite Kemba Walker Injury

• Kemba Walker sidelined until early January after undergoing left knee procedure
• Jeff Teague, Marcus Smart likely to see bigger roles with Walker out
• Celtics (+550) still listed among odds-on favorites to win Eastern Conference

The Boston Celtics announced Tuesday that star guard Kemba Walker will be sidelined until January after receiving a stem cell injection in his left knee. Walker was put on a 12-week strengthening plan after discussing his sore knee with doctors in October. The team ultimately decided that the procedure would be the smartest path for Walker with the 2020-21 season on the horizon.

NBA training camps are set to get underway on Tuesday, with preseason games scheduled to start in 10 days. The regular-season schedule begins on December 22. With Walker expected back as soon as the first week of January, the former All-Star will luckily not be forced to miss a big chunk of the season.

The Celtics also announced that center Tristan Thompson, who signed a contract as a free agent last week, suffered a hamstring injury before signing his deal. Thompson will be limited during the first week of camp, but the injury is not expected to keep him sidelined once the season begins.

Walker’s Troublesome Knee

Walker will resume basketball activities shortly before the team updates his status once again early next month. The 30-year-old averaged 20.4 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game last season in his first year with Boston. Walker signed a four-year deal worth $141 million to join the Celtics after starting his career in Charlotte.

Walker was able to help lead the Celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they fell at the hands of the Miami Heat in the Disney World bubble. Walker struggled a bit in the postseason, however, particularly in Boston’s seven-game second-round series against Toronto.

The ailing left knee slowed Walker for much of his first season with the Celtics. He wound up playing on a minutes restriction once the seeding games started in Orlando over the summer, and he was clearly not playing at 100 percent during most of the postseason.

Teague, Smart Likely to Step In

The Celtics, who finished with the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 48-24 last year, lost swingman Gordon Hayward to Charlotte in free agency last week. Walker’s former backup, Brad Wanamaker, left to sign a deal with Golden State.

Jeff Teague, who was signed to a one-year deal last week, will likely see more playing time with Walker sidelined. The veteran guard averaged about 11 points and five assists per game across 59 games last season between Minnesota and Atlanta. Marcus Smart, who was already set to play a larger role with Hayward gone, will also likely see his fair share of minutes at the point during Walker’s absence.

Celtics Still Among NBA Championship Favorites

Boston is currently listed at +1300 to win the NBA title this season, which gives them the fifth-best odds of any team behind the Lakers (+300), Clippers (+550), Bucks (+550), and Nets (+600). The Celtics own the third-best odds (+550) to win the Eastern Conference behind Milwaukee and Brooklyn, along with the second-best odds (+220) to win the stacked Atlantic Division at sports betting sites.

The Celtics will open their preseason schedule on December 15 with a matchup on the road against the Philadelphia 76ers before coming home to face the Nets three days later. Regular-season schedules have not yet been announced.