The Boston Celtics didn't swing big at Thursday's NBA trade deadline, but managed to accomplish their two biggest goals: adding a quality center and saving a ton of money.
Maybe Nikola Vucevic isn't the true difference-maker some Celtics fans were hoping for, but the Celtics did an admirable job getting under the luxury tax with a series of moves on Thursday. Trading Josh Minott, Xavier Tillman Sr., and Chris Boucher after turning Anfernee Simons into Vucevic pushed the Celtics under the tax line, giving them a ton of future flexibility.
Now, the Celtics have only 12 players on the roster, as well as three players on two-way contracts. They have to get very creative until the end of the season to fill out the roster spots before going over the tax line. But who is actually on this Celtics team right now, and what will the depth chart look like?
Projected Celtics Depth Chart After NBA Trade Deadline
PG | SG | SF | PF | C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Payton Pritchard | Derrick White | Jaylen Brown | Jayson Tatum? | Nikola Vucevic |
Baylor Scheierman | Hugo Gonzalez | Jordan Walsh | Sam Hauser | Neemias Queta |
Max Shulga | Ron Harper Jr. | Amari Williams | Luka Garza |
The question mark next to Jayson Tatum's name is obviously the biggest question mark surrounding the team, as well. If Tatum returns this season, the Celtics should have enough talent to make a deep postseason run in the East. If he doesn't, this is still a feisty team that will be a tough out.
Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, and Jaylen Brown are the three surefire starters. Neemias Queta started at center for most of the season, but whether he will lose his spot to Vucevic right away remains to be seen.
Vucevic is the far more talented offensive player, but Queta is a two-way force that makes the Celtics a more balanced, two-way team. Vucevic may get the start as the more experienced veteran, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see Queta play more and close games, especially in the playoffs.
The fifth spot in the starting lineup has been up in the air all season. Head coach Joe Mazzulla has been riding the hot hand there; Baylor Scheierman, Hugo Gonzalez, Sam Hauser, and Jordan Walsh all getting a chance to start. Even Ron Harper Jr. got a start in Boston's most recent game. Until Tatum returns, Hauser should remain the favorite, but all the perimeter players have a chance.
Scheierman, Gonzalez, and Walsh will be key contributors off the bench. Whether Luka Garza is a part of the rotation and sees significant minutes in two-big lineups will be interesting to watch. He has played next to Queta, but whether he and Vucevic share the court remains to be seen.
Since the Celtics are currently short-handed until they sort out the roster spot issue, it will be all hands on deck. Behind the Pritchard-White-Brown-Hauser-Vucevic lineup, Gonzalez, Scheierman, Walsh, Queta, and Garza should make up a ten-man rotation.
Once Tatum comes in and pushes Hauser to the bench, Celtics fans should feel pretty good about how that depth chart looks.