NBA trade deadline week is upon us, with teams maneuvering ahead of Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET deadline. While a few trades have already occurred – De’Andre Hunter to Sacramento and Vit Krejci to Portland – the league is entering a critical period where teams must decide whether to buy, sell, or stand pat with 60 percent of the 2025-26 season completed.
The potential future of Giannis Antetokounmpo could be influencing activity, as teams await clarity on his long-term plans. The Boston Celtics, currently tied for second in the Eastern Conference, are also evaluating potential moves as they navigate an unexpectedly successful season with their revamped roster.
The Celtics’ decisions may be influenced by the potential return of All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum from Achilles surgery, though Tatum has indicated he is still considering his own timeline for a return, more than eight months after the injury.
Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens faces a key question: should the team make a significant trade to capitalize on the open nature of the Eastern Conference, or focus on smaller depth moves given the team’s current success? Another option is to stand pat and explore the buyout market after the deadline.
What is Boston’s biggest need?
While Neemias Queta has excelled in a starting role and Luka Garza has provided energy off the bench, the Celtics could benefit from adding size. An injury to either player would leave the team thin in the frontcourt, despite the potential of rookie Amari Williams.
Potential playoff matchups against physical teams like Detroit and those with strong big men like New York (Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson), Philadelphia (Joel Embiid), and Cleveland (Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen) highlight the need for frontcourt depth.
Despite the need for size, Queta has been a significant contributor, with a net rating of +11.3, second best on the team. Boston’s starting five with Queta has the fourth-best net rating in the league among lineups with at least 100 minutes played.
What are Boston’s tradable assets?
The Celtics possess first-round picks in five of the next six drafts. However, they cannot immediately trade their 2028 or 2029 first-round pick due to the Stepien Rule. The Spurs also have the right to swap first-round picks with the Celtics in 2028, though both teams are projected to be contenders at that time. Boston also has some second-round draft capital.
Anfernee Simons, making $27.7 million in the final year of his contract, has been the subject of trade rumors. Sam Hauser, coming off a strong January, is also a potential trade asset, having recently signed a four-year, $45 million extension. Chris Boucher and Xavier Tillman could also be moved to cut salary, though both are on minimum deals.
TPE season is back
The Celtics have several traded player exceptions (TPEs) that could facilitate trades without needing to match salaries. These include an $8.2 million TPE from the Georges Niang trade, a $4.7 million TPE from the Jrue Holiday deal, and a $4 million TPE from the Jaden Springer trade. The most significant is a $22.5 million TPE from the Kristaps Porzingis trade, which expires in July.
Utilizing these TPEs could allow the Celtics to add salary without exceeding the second apron, a restriction they avoided this past summer.
Put on your aprons, mind the tax
The Celtics are currently $7.8 million below the second apron. They are also $12 million above the luxury tax line and facing repeater penalties, resulting in a projected tax bill of around $40 million this season. While new owner Bill Chisholm doesn’t appear to prioritize avoiding the tax, reducing repeater penalties could be a consideration.
Let’s make a deal
Rumors have linked the Celtics to Clippers big man Ivica Zubac, who fits their need for size and has a reasonable contract. However, the Clippers’ recent improvement may make them less willing to trade him.
The Celtics could also explore trades for players like Wendell Carter Jr. From Orlando or potentially revisit a deal to bring Robert Williams III back to Boston from Portland. Finding impactful players at a reasonable cost is proving difficult, as only a limited number of teams are clear sellers.
the Celtics may need to rely on internal improvement and the potential return of Jayson Tatum. Tatum’s return would be a significant upgrade, potentially negating the need for further moves. His size and defensive versatility would bolster the team’s playoff prospects.
Stevens faces difficult decisions, but the Celtics are in a strong position with a 52-win pace, the third-best point differential and net rating in the NBA, and the second-best offensive rating.
