We now are less than two months away from the NBA’s February 8 trade deadline, and trade talks are expected to intensify in the coming weeks, as players who signed as free agents in the offseason are now eligible to be traded, adding more fuel to the trade discussions.
Though the Celtics’ depth pieces showed they are capable of competing, Brad Stevens and the Celtics’ Front Office recognize they have a chance to accomplish something special, and Stevens has shown he’s willing to make whatever deals are necessary to shore up his roster.
Earlier this month, NBA insider Shams Charania revealed that the Celtics are likely to explore trade options prior to the deadline. As we approach that date, the names involved in these discussions – many presume they will be frontcourt options – will likely become clearer.
According to The Athletic’s James Edwards III, one name to keep an eye on is Pistons’ big man Isaiah Stewart.
Edwards states the Celtics have “shown great interest” in the 22-year-old. Other teams to show interest include the Mavericks and Thunder.
The Pistons are currently freefalling, riding a historic 23-game losing streak, with their last win coming on October 28. A shake-up is seemingly inevitable as the team looks to return to some sort of relevancy.
Stewart, who many may remember from this infamous moment…
Is a former 16th overall pick in the 2020 draft by way of Washington and has been a starter for Detroit each of the last three seasons.
The 4-year vet is averaging 10.2 points on 45.5% shooting from the field, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists. The 6-foot-8 big man is also shooting a career-best 37.7% from beyond the arc on 3.6 attempts per game and has posted the second-best defensive rating on the Pistons this season, behind just Jalen Duren.
While Stewart appears to be a good fit for Boston, acquiring him is easier said than done.
The New York native signed a four-year, $64 million rookie contract extension over the offseason. The contract includes a “Poison Pill” provision, which means his outgoing and incoming salaries differ in a trade.
For Stewart, his outgoing trade value is approximately $5.3 million. However, a team attempting to acquire him would need to match a salary of just over $13 million—a challenging proposition for the Celtics, who are already constrained by cap flexibility and sit above the luxury tax.
With all their future draft capital, the Celtics are well-equipped with the resources needed to put the finishing touches on what has the makings of a championship roster, but a deal to acquire Stewart may be too difficult for the Celtics to navigate.
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