Celtics' next championship piece may already be obvious

While the New York Knicks are set to take on the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA finals on Wednesday, the Boston Celtics are watching the playoffs unfold at home. Although not seeing the Celtics play during this time of the year stinks, their performance in the final three games against the Philadelphia 76ers wasn’t worthy of a deep postseason run.

Despite the disappointing ending, President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens seems determined to revamp the roster back into a title contender and raise the franchise’s 19th championship banner. But what moves in particular will Stevens and company make in the offseason?

While rumors of a potential trade for Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo have been floated these last few weeks, we shouldn’t expect Boston to break up the core (Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown) that led them to a title just two years ago.

Instead, the Celtics should emphasize surrounding the pair with better talent. One name who could help turn Boston back into the NBA finals is Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington.

The Celtics should pursue P.J. Washington this offseason

Celtics fans should already be familiar with Washington from his days with the Charlotte Hornets and Mavericks, where he played a pivotal role in their 2024 NBA Finals appearance. Over the course of his career, Washington has been a quality role player.

Standing at 6-foot-7, he offers great value on both ends with his three-point shooting and ability to defend multiple positions. Washington, 27, is coming off a solid season, averaging 14.2 points, 7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1 block in 56 games.

Although he had a down year from three (shooting 32.5% on 4.2 attempts), this can be attributed to him being tasked with creating his own shots due to the injuries to multiple Mavericks players. Still, Washington is a solid threat from beyond the arc, shooting a career 35.4% from three.

This, along with his ability to alter shots with his 7-foot-3 wingspan, should make him the Celtics’ top target this Summer.

P.J. Washington would complement the rest of the Celtics' core

The former Kentucky Wildcat would transition seamlessly to Boston. Unlike in his last season, he won’t be forced to generate offense for himself or garner the attention of the opposing defenses.

Rather, he can sit in the corner while Tatum and Brown create open looks for him and get points on second-chance opportunities by cleaning up the glass. He can also give the superstar forwards a break by guarding the best wing, which he’s shown the capability of.

Additionally, Washington is a fiery, passionate player who would be instantly welcomed with open arms by Celtics fans. Remember, he threw down former Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis in Game 5 of the finals, which led to a little exchange between the two.

Obviously, his skillset and traits make him an ideal target, but acquiring him is a different story. Even though it shouldn’t require a massive package to land Washington, they must put together a competitive offer, considering he signed a four-year, $88.8 million extension last year. Furthermore, the Mavericks may not have interest in moving him, given the important role he has played in the rotation over the last few seasons.

According to Spotrac, trading forward Sam Hauser for Washington straight up would be successful; however, Dallas would likely want more for the seven-year veteran, including forward Jordan Walsh and the No. 27 pick, which should be enough to get a deal done.

The Celtics won a championship because they had good role players around Tatum and Brown. Retooling the team to complement the duo should be the top priority, and with Washington in the mix, Boston would be a much better team.

Of course, this move doesn’t guarantee another championship, but it’s the right step towards securing one.

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