The NBA trade deadline is less than a week away. Usually, the trade deadline is a good indicator of how teams plan on attacking the second half of the season. If a team makes a move to improve their current team, then they'll want to push for a playoff spot, whereas a team moving established players typically means shooting for a higher lottery pick.
Given how the Boston Celtics season has gone, it would be surprising if the team were not active at the deadline. During this season, the Celtics have surpassed their preseason expectations, in part due to Jaylen Brown's play.
Looking over the roster, here's where could Boston look to improve at the deadline.
1. Rotation-Caliber Big
Heading into the season, the biggest question mark on the Celtics' roster was the team's front-court. After losing their top three bigs from last year's roster, it was up to Neemias Queta and Luka Garza to fill in, despite neither having consistently played this much before. Though both have played well this season, having a rotation of just two bigs that you trust isn't sustainable.
Adding a third big man you can trust would improve the Celtics, since Queta and Garza can still have ineffective nights. Getting an extra big would be nice insurance, or finding an upgrade could make the Celtics closer to contenders.
Boston has multiple avenues to acquire a big depending on the cost of business. The most common player suggested in any conversations regarding acquiring a big is Anfernee Simons. Adding another center would help bolster the Celtics this year, and when Jayson Tatum returns.
2. Guard Depth
As mentioned above, the most popular name for the Celtics to trade is Anfernee Simons. Trading away Simons, even for an upgrade somewhere else, would then create a need for a guard off the bench. While this shouldn't deter the Celtics from moving Simons if the trade is right, Boston should look to acquire another guard in a separate trade.
Though Boston could look to split Payton Pritchard's and Derrick White's minutes more, the better choice would be to bring in another guard. By bringing another guard, the Celtics can also keep some of the forwards at their current spots, not forcing them into a different role.
3. Moving End of Bench Guys
At the deadline, the Celtics should look to move some of the players who haven't played much this season. Two names that come to mind are Chris Boucher and Xavier Tillman.
Starting with Tillman, he has been with Boston for a couple of years now after being acquired at the 2024 NBA trade deadline. Since then, he hasn't sustained a consistent role in the Celtics rotation. With the deadline approaching, should Boston receive offers on him, they should look to entertain them and consider moving him.
The same goes for Chris Boucher. After a long tenure with the Toronto Raptors, Boucher joined the Celtics this past offseason. Up to this point, however, Boucher hasn't factored into the Celtics success, barely playing this season. Boston should look to move Boucher if the opportunity is available, which would then give the Celtics an open roster spot that they could use on rookie center Amari Williams.
Ever since becoming the team's GM, Brad Stevens has been active at trade deadlines, so this year shouldn't be any different. Historically, Boston has also been pretty successful at trade deadlines, with some great moves.