The NBA Trade Deadline has come and gone, and the Boston Celtics were one of the league’s most active teams, making three trades. The most notable of these trades sent sixth-man of the year candidate, Anfernee Simons, to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for center Nikola Vucevic.
While this move gives Boston a significant frontcourt upgrade, the team’s guard depth took a hit. The loss of Simons means head coach Joe Mazzulla is now relying exclusively on Payton Pritchard and Derrick White as ball-handlers. As a result, in the two games since the Simons trade, Mazzulla has staggered the two guards' minutes to keep a trusted guard on the floor at all times.
After also trading away Josh Minott to the Brooklyn Nets and Chris Boucher to the Toronto Raptors, the Celtics were able to open up their non-tax mid-level exception. This gives the team flexibility to sign any player off the buyout market for the remainder of the season. After general manager Brad Stevens converted two-way big man Amari Williams to a two-year contract, there is one open roster spot left. And the Celtics may have found the perfect guard to fill out their rotation, former Brooklyn Net Cam Thomas.
According to ESPN insider Shams Charania, the Nets agreed to release Thomas, who should have plenty of interest on the buyout market. The former LSU Tiger and first-round pick has spent his five-year career in Brooklyn, averaging 15.2 points in 23.3 minutes. While Thomas does not provide much production outside of scoring, as his career averages of 2.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists show, it is a rarity to find a scorer of his magnitude on the open market at this point in the season. That alone should make him an ideal target for Brad Stevens.
Heading into the trade deadline, the Boston Celtics had a glaring need for an upgrade at the center position. After the trade for Nikola Vucevic and the Amari Williams signing, the front court appears set. When you consider the yet-to-be-ruled-out return of Jayson Tatum as well, the Celtics could be one of the league’s most complete teams and a real threat to get to the NBA Finals.
All that’s left is to address the guard rotation, and if Brad Stevens can bring Cam Thomas into an already loaded back court, the rest of the NBA should take notice.