The Boston Celtics may seem content leading up to Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, but there’s a chance they’ll engage in a trade or two nonetheless. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, they’ve been active in exploring opportunities, particularly aiming to enhance their bench for the playoffs by potentially packaging some of their lower-contract players and draft picks. Despite being the league leaders in winning percentage and net rating, the question remains: does it truly make sense for them to further bolster their talent? Or do the Celtics already possess all the necessary elements to contend for the championship? Let’s delve into these inquiries and more as we offer three predictions for the Celtics ahead of the deadline.
In today’s NBA landscape, it’s widely acknowledged that having an abundance of versatile wing players is advantageous. However, the Boston Celtics aren’t in danger of exceeding that limit, as they currently boast one of the league’s top wing duos in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, along with Sam Hauser who has earned a regular spot in the rotation. Nevertheless, beyond these players, the Celtics lack depth in the wing positions, with others having to adjust positions to provide coverage.
This scarcity likely explains why acquiring a big wing player ranks high on the team’s wishlist, and fortunately, the Celtics possess sufficient assets to facilitate such a trade. It’s unlikely they’ll target a high-profile option, probably aiming for someone who fits within their $6.2 million trade exception, such as Saddiq Bey. However, alternatives like Reggie Bullock, Otto Porter Jr., or John Konchar could still provide valuable contributions to the team.
For quite some time now, the Celtics have been associated, whether by necessity or logic, with the idea of acquiring backup big men. When your top two centers are the injury-prone Kristaps Porziņģis and 37-year-old Al Horford, it’s clear that bolstering depth at the position is crucial.
Reports suggest that Boston has been exploring options in the low-post market. According to Scotto, Kelly Olynyk and Andre Drummond are among the various trade targets that have caught the Celtics’ attention.
However, incorporating Olynyk into their financial structure might pose challenges. While Drummond could provide added size in the paint and improve rebounding, his limitations might not guarantee him a consistent spot in the rotation over players like Luke Kornet or even Neemias Queta.
Thus, while addressing this need has been apparent for some time, finding a solution before the deadline isn’t straightforward. The Celtics may opt to stick with their current roster, or if they feel compelled to make a move, they could explore options in the buyout market as an insurance policy.
The Celtics possess ample assets for trades, including the option of offering two first-round picks and holding eight second-round selections. However, what they lack are players with expendable mid-sized salaries. Out of the six players earning more than $5 million, five are integral parts of their highly effective starting lineup, which boasts a remarkable point differential of 12.1 per 100 possessions. The sixth player, Horford, adds invaluable versatility and composure on both ends of the floor.
It’s evident that the Celtics have no intention of parting ways with any key members of their starting lineup, and it’s unlikely they’ll consider moving players like Hauser or Payton Pritchard. Furthermore, given their restricted budget, it’s challenging to envision them acquiring someone capable of displacing any of their top seven players (or eight, depending on their confidence in Pritchard’s playoff readiness).
Although Boston could potentially execute a trade this week, don’t expect significant changes, if any, to their postseason rotation.
