Hopium

Is Walker that much of an upgrade from Ceci that you're willing to pay a 2nd to dump him? Imo that seems like poor asset management but I haven't watched much of either to know if the cost is worth it. Fwiw I think Chicago accepts.

You've overpaid in both trades and likely underpaid Walker. Kostin is very unlikely to be worth much more than a late pick (at which point I imagine SJ just keeps him for "beef") and Ceci likely shouldn't cost anything to dump but might because of perceptions. What a Ceci trade will look like depends almost entirely on finding a GM that values what he brings. If a GM likes him and thinks they have a spot where he can find success (either at 3RD or 2RD with the right partner), he should at least be moveable without cost. If not, I imagine the maximum cost would be a 4th which, in conjunction with the return he'd bring if traded at the deadline (~3rd), should give the acquiring team value equivalent to a 2nd.

How does a late 4th and late 3rd at the deadline equal a 2nd?

Notice how you left out the "late" on the 2nd? I reckon that a 3rd and a 4th hold similar (hence the '~') value to what a late 2nd holds.

I left it out because a late 4th and late 3rd equal a mid 3rd in value.