The Boston Celtics made some solid picks in the 2026 draft (Chris Cenac Jr. and Dillon Mitchell both look like they can turn into legitimate contributors at the NBA level), but we still have no clue who their starting center is going to be for the 2026-27 season.
Neemias Queta had a career year last season as Boston's starting center (10.2 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.3 BPG, 65.3 FG% in 76 games), but it's obvious that he's not a starting big man on a championship-caliber team. He was eaten alive defensively once Joel Embiid returned in the first round of the playoffs, and while he has talent, it's hard to trust him against some of the other best big men in the NBA.
The Celtics need to make a big change to their lineup (no pun intended), and if they didn't get their answer in the draft, then they better find it through free agency or in the trade market. And they better find it as soon as possible.
The Celtics have a few ways to upgrade at center
But they're not necessarily great.
The center market in free agency is decent, but Boston shouldn't be too thrilled with any of the names, unless it plans on having a stopgap at the position for a year until either a) it finds another solution, or b) Cenac makes a bigger immediate impact than most are expecting.
Kristaps Porzingis (remember him?), Robert Williams III (and him?), Mitchell Robinson, Isaiah Hartenstein (assuming the Oklahoma City Thunder decline his $28.5 million team option), could all be good fits in Boston. And if the money is right, they could each be a fantastic addition to the Celtics' roster. (They also each have finals/championship experience, which is always a plus).
However, Porzingis and Williams each have huge injury concerns, Robinson has an extremely limited offensive game, and Hartenstein is not a floor-spacer, which the Celtics are drastically lacking, and would likely cost a pretty penny to sign.
They could also go the trade route, but that might be easier said than done.
Myles Turner could be a good fit because of his presence as a stretch big, but he's regressing and is on a disgusting contract (and, personally, I'm done with Celtics-Milwaukee Bucks trade rumors for a little bit). Daniel Gafford could be solid, but he doesn't raise Boston's ceiling. And I'm all the way out on Rudy Gobert and Domantas Sabonis, mostly because it would likely require trading Jaylen Brown for them (which still shouldn't happen unless things are just too far gone).
Celtics don't need to make a big splash at center
Boston isn't going to get a massive upgrade at center, unless Brown is for sure on his way. And in that case, it could make sense for the team to try and swing a trade for a guy like Evan Mobley (the Cleveland Cavaliers have an extra big and need a wing, and the Celtics have an extra wing and need a big).
Is that ideal? No. Mobley is a vastly underwhelming big man who just hasn't put it all together yet. But the Celtics don't have a ton of options.
Maybe they can bank on Queta's development for one more season. Maybe there's an under-the-radar trade candidate who is the perfect fit in Boston. Maybe it's actually possible for them to acquire someone like Walker Kessler, even though he's a restricted free agent.
Regardless, the Celtics have some decisions they need to make. And the sooner, the better.
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