The Boston Celtics were one of the biggest surprises in the NBA this past season. But after fizzling out in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, the Celtics enter a pivotal offseason.
2 Trades That Could Help the Celtics Beef Up Frontcourt
Despite being without star Jayson Tatum for three-fourths of the regular season, Boston won 50 games for the fifth straight season. The Celtics, who also claimed their fifth consecutive Atlantic Division title, finished with a 56-26 record to finish second in the Eastern Conference. Jaylen Brown became a legitimate MVP candidate as he compiled 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists with shooting splits of 47.7/34.7/79.5. Payton Pritchard, Neemias Queta, Sam Hauser and Luka Garza had career seasons. Meanwhile, Derrick White was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team for the first time, and Joe Mazzulla was named the NBA Coach of the Year.
However, the Celtics were ousted in the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2021, falling to the Philadelphia 76ers in seven games despite leading 3-1. Scoring was a big problem for the Celtics, who ranked in the bottom half of the league at 114.9 points a game. In the playoffs, they scored 100 or fewer points in four of the seven contests, including each of the last three in the series.
Tatum was terrific in the playoffs, though he missed Game 7 against the Sixers due to left knee stiffness. Brown was productive but struggled with efficiency, as did Pritchard and White. The Celtics shot 43.4% from the field and 33.7% from the 3-point line. Over 52% of the Celtics’ shots against the Sixers came from the 3-point line.
“I will say that I look at more each shot individually, and my general feeling watching us play in really each of the last two playoffs — the second round against New York, even against Orlando in the first round — was we had a hard time generating really good looks on that first shot,” president of basketball operation Brad Stevens said when talking about a potential philosophy change after the season. “So, we’ve got to figure out a way to do better in that, and I think that one of the things that we’ve got to figure out is how to have more of an impact at the rim. And I think we do need to add to our team to do that.”
What Do The Celtics Need to Do This Offseason?
Boston still has a lot of talent on the roster. Still, the Celtics must rebuild playoff‑reliable depth around Tatum, Brown, and White. However, Stevens does have a lot to navigate amid a 2026-27 tight cap and looming tax penalties.
The Celtics have 14 players under contract for this upcoming season with a salary cap hit of $187.7 million. The Celtics do have some flexibility as only $168 million is guaranteed, though the C’s project to guarantee Queta’s and Jordan Walsh‘s deals. They have two draft picks this season, the No. 27 and No. 4o selections.
“Exercising the options for [Ron] Harper and Walsh would make a lot of sense,” Nick Gross of NBC Sports Boston said. “Harper exceeded expectations and was a surprise starter for Game 7 against the Sixers. Walsh took a huge leap in his development, especially offensively. He also provided strong defense and plenty of hustle.”
“Queta took a massive step forward in his first year as a starter with career highs of 10.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, Gross continued. “He also made a strong case to be a finalist for the Most Improved Player Award. He is extension-eligible this summer, too — his max extension is four years at $92 million.
The biggest things the Celtics need to do this offseason are to find a reliable, experienced big and add depth to the backcourt.
“The Celtics’ frontcourt surpassed all expectations throughout the regular season, but the first round shone a light on that group’s flaws, “Jay King of The Athletic said last week. “The best bet for the offseason is that Celtics general manager Brad Stevens will pursue another center to either take Queta’s starting spot or serve as a worthy backup to him.”
Who Can The Celtics Target To Solidify The Roster?
Boston has already been linked to Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer, with Brown being the centerpiece of a deal headed out of Beantown. While ESPN’s Brian Windhorst recently said he hasn’t heard about the Celtics and Bucks talking shop about Antetokounmpo and the Miami Heat appear to be the favorites in his sweepstakes, the Athletic duo of Sam Amick and Eric Nehm called the Celtics a wild card.
“While the Celtics have been controlling the messaging about their part in the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes recently, with longtime Celtics reporter Steve Bulpett indicating that there have been no direct talks between Boston and Milwaukee, there were strong signs at the February trade deadline that they were chewing on the possibility,” they wrote earlier today.
The Celtics have also been linked to New Orleans forward Trey Murphy III.
“We assume he’s probably going to get traded over the next three weeks,” Bill Simmons of the BS Podcast said a few days ago. “I think Boston is a possibility. We thought that whoever lost this matchup (Spurs and Thunder) was a possibility. You have two to three weeks to trade for someone like that.”
It would be surprising if the Celtics were able or really wanted to pull the trigger on either deal. It would be better if the Celtics go with small tweaks.
A few potential, albeit likely expensive, options for the Celtics in free agency up front include Oklahoma City’s Isaiah Hartenstein (team option) and unrestricted free agents Mitch Robinson and Robert Williams III. The Celtics will have the $15.1 million non-taxpayer exemption and several trade exceptions, including one worth $22.5 million (expires July 7) and another worth $27.6 million (expires February 5). King mentioned that Myles Turner, Nic Claxton, Onyeka Okongwu, Isaiah Stewart, and Daniel Gafford would all fit under the $27.6 million trade exception.
2 Trades that The Celtics Also Could Pursue?
NBC Sports Boston’s Chris Forsberg suggested the couple of small tweaks would involve a couple of trades if they can’t sign Williams under the non-taxpayer midlevel exemption.
Williams, selected with the No. 28 pick in 2018 by the Celtics, has been plagued by injuries throughout his career. He averaged 6.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks while shooting 70.8% from the field and 39.1% from the 3-point line.
“[Williams] showed well in the postseason, even while jousting with Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs in the first round, Forsberg said, making the case Williams was the best solution for the Celtics’ big problems. “The combo of Queta and Williams III gives you a legitimate 1-2 punch at the center spot with Luka Garza there to eat up leftover minutes.”
However, if the Celtics can’t sign Williams, Forsberg believes the next best option is to trade up in the 2026 draft to select Allen Graves. Graves, named the 2025-26 WCC ROY and 6th Man of the Year, averaged 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.9 steals in 22.3 minutes for the Broncos. The 6-9 forward produced three double-doubles and scored in double figures 25 times while also knocking down 1.1 threes at a 41.6% clip. He is projected to go between No. 17 and 25.
“Utilize available assets to navigate the draft board to add Allen Graves with a first-round pick and home-grow the next power forward on your roster,” Forsberg said. “We were already intrigued by the Draymond Green comps, then Graves said he’s been crushing tape of Naz Reid and Al Horford. Wow, we’re sold, this is the guy for Boston.”
Forsberg also suggested that the Celtics should trade for Stewart or Wendell Carter Jr.
“The Celtics likely would be hard-capped at the first apron if they use the non-taxpayer MLE and can’t spend too richly if that is utilized,” he said. “But they should be ambitious, hunting a big guard or an established power forward to beef up the roster. We’re calling Orlando to check on Wendell Carter Jr. given the Magic’s bloated cap sheet (though that would likely mean sitting out a full midlevel splurge). Can you tempt Detroit with some shooting in a quest to trade for Isaiah Stewart?”
Photo credit: Winslow Townson, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
