Since assuming the role of President of Basketball Operations, Brad Stevens has not been afraid to make moves. We were reminded of that on Sunday evening.
Although the Celtics hold the best record in the NBA and sit five games ahead of the second-place Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference, that doesn’t necessarily mean Stevens and the Front Office aren’t looking for ways to improve the team.
“The Celtics are definitely trying,” NBA insider Shams Charania said when asked if Boston is trying to fortify their bench depth on FanDuel’s “Run it Back” podcast.
“They have a couple of avenues. You can either go the trade route. They have a [traded] player exception as well at around $6.2 million that they can use in a trade. The problem with the Celtics is they’re top six, seven deep — clearly top heavy — you think about their top six guys, probably the best six in terms of depth in the league. But beyond that on their bench, they don’t have the salaries to go match out there [in trades] to go get a difference-making player.”
The TPE acquired in the Grant Williams sign-and-trade over the offseason will be Boston’s most significant asset at the deadline. Sure, the Celtics have plenty of draft capital, possessing their own first-round picks through 2027 and a total of 12 choices over the next five drafts. However, as noted by Charania, it would be difficult to make most deals work financially without taking away one of their rotational players.
Despite the team already being well above the luxury tax and one of just five teams over the NBA’s second apron, Stevens noted last month that he has the “green light” from ownership to continue to add to the team’s payroll. This includes utilizing that $6.2 million TPE.
“Green light to do whatever we need to do, for sure,” Stevens said. “And that TPE, that’s really the number one tool we have, right? Is the ability to add somebody, but that’s $6.1 or $6.2 million. So it’s a small number of people. A lot of the people that are in that were signed to minimums or smaller contracts or are on their rookie scale deals that teams aren’t exactly excited to move on from yet. So it’s a very small group of people, but we’re going to exhaust it. We’re going to look at it.”
Boston has more than just trades as a means to enhance its roster. The 15th roster spot on the Celtics is currently unoccupied, and Boston’s status as a bonafide championship contender could attract potential buyout candidates seeking a new team.
“I could also see them being a force in the buyout market,” Charania said. “You always see that after March 1.”
Although no move will likely be considered a needle-mover, instead, more so providing some insurance on the back end of the bench, here are some of the names the Celtics have been linked to as we inch closer to February 8.
Neemias Queta
This would be an internal addition, but converting Queta’s two-way contract to a standard NBA deal seems like the most realistic option.
“He’s a hard worker,” Stevens said of Queta last month. “He’s been a really good player for us. We anticipated and communicated to him when we got him that he was going to be in Boston a whole heck of a lot more than Maine because we were going to have Al sitting on back-to-backs, and Kristaps was going to sit a little bit here, and there.”
Stevens noted the 7-foot big man had made a “great case” to claim the vacant roster spot.
The Celtics signed the former Utah State standout to a two-way deal after his release by the Sacramento Kings in September, and the Portugal native has developed into a valuable depth piece for the Celtics.
In 22 games, the 24-year-old has consistently impacted the game with his presence around the rim. While there is room for improvement, Queta has proven a viable option for the Celtics, providing solid minutes whenever he’s been called upon.
With an eye on the postseason, where two-way players are ineligible, converting Queta’s contract to a team-friendly standard deal seems like a no-brainer for the Celtics. This move allows them to develop a promising depth piece with potential and opens up another two-way spot.
Kelly Olynyk
The Celtics have been linked to Olynyk since December. Although a reunion with the former fan favorite would be fun, it would be tricky for Brad Stevens and the Celtics’ Front Office maneuver.
For the Celtics to acquire Olynyk, they would need to match the nearly $12 million he is due this season – a tough ask for a team already constrained by cap flexibility and sitting above the luxury tax.
The 32-year-old is shooting a career-best 42.9% from distance and averaging a career-high 4.3 assists per contest. He would be an excellent fit for this Celtics team. However, this doesn’t feel realistic, especially considering he would be the third big — just too much to give up.
Andre Drummond
According to HoopHype’s Michael Scotto, the Celtics have expressed interest in Drummond.
Drummond, set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, appears destined for a move by Chicago at the deadline, given the team’s ongoing struggles.
Now 30 years old and in his 12th season, the two-time All-Star is averaging 7.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Drummond’s current salary of $3.2 million makes him a financially feasible option for Boston.
A potential trade might require only a few second-round picks, of which Boston has an abundance. Drummond would also immediately become a buyout candidate if he is not moved by the deadline.
As the Celtics look to do anything they can to solidify their championship chances, Drummond could be a name to watch if the Celtics aren’t quite ready to rely on Queta behind Luke Kornet, Al Horford, and Kristaps Porzingis in the collection of bigs.
Delon Wright
Also linked to the Celtics by Scotto, Wright is averaging 4.4 points, 1.6 boards, 2.8 assists, and a steal with the Washington Wizards this season. Wright, who missed time earlier this season due to a knee injury, plays a reserve role in Washington.
The 31-year-old has been a journeyman in the NBA, playing for seven teams in his professional career.
The Utah product is in the final season of a two-year, $16 million extension he signed with Washington in 2022. This season, he is making $8.2 million before becoming an unrestricted free agent.
Wright doesn’t fit into the Williams TPE, so Boston must trade Oshae Brissett, Svi Mykhailiuk, Lamar Stevens, or Dalano Banton to acquire him.
Given the price tag and the fact Boston’s focus seems to be on the
frontcourt, this is a pass.
Jae’Sean Tate
According to Kelly Iko of the Athletic, the Celtics are one of several teams to have expressed interest in the Houston Rockets wing.
The 6-foot-4 Ohio State product went undrafted in 2020 before finding a home with the Rockets. In 2022, he signed a three-year $20.6 million contract. He averages 4.5 points, 1.1 assists, and 3.3 rebounds in 17.9 minutes per game this season.
Unfortunately for the Celtics, Tate's $6.5 million salary this season is slightly above the $6.2 million TPE. Notably, he also had a club option for next season of $7 million.
However, Tate likely wouldn’t cost too much in terms of assets. While Tate doesn’t necessarily fit the criteria of the “Big wing” Stevens is looking for, the 28-year-old could be a name to watch to slot in behind Sam Hauser and likely Brissett in Boston’s assortment of reserve wings.
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