As we ease into the first full day of NBA Free Agency, the Boston Celtics still have yet to make any signings. Free agents could actually be key for Boston this summer. They’ve got both the full mid-level and bi-annual exceptions at their disposal, worth $15.1 million and $5.5 million respectively.
Shortly after Boston selected Houston big man Chris Cenac Jr. 27th overall in last week’s NBA Draft, Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens shared insight into what the front office hopes to add to the roster this summer.
“I do think [we’d like] size and maybe add one more person with speed on the perimeter,” Stevens shared last Tuesday at the Auerbach Center.
Before Boston gets wheeling and dealing, let’s take a quick look at some realistic potential signings.
Kevon Looney
Veteran big man Kevon Looney wouldn’t be the flashiest addition for Boston. Looney would, however, give the team some much needed frontcourt depth, considering that Nikola Vucevic’s departure is a foregone conclusion.
According to The Steinline’s Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, Looney is on the Celtics’ list of center targets.
The six-foot-nine-inch center wouldn’t start over Neemias Queta, but he’d be a viable alternative to Luka Garza off the bench. If the Cs decide they’d rather go with a solid defensive rebounding presence over Garza’s floor-spacing, then they’d give themselves the option with Looney.
Plus, Looney would bring added championship experience to Boston. He spent his first nine NBA seasons with the Golden State Warriors. He was a key rotation player for them during their peak and started 80 games in their most recent title year in 2021-22.
Last season, Looney battled injuries in his lone season away from the Dubs. He appeared in just 20 games for the New Orleans Pelicans, but still ripped down almost six rebounds per game off the bench.
He’d likely be a minimum signing, or at least close to it, and would allow the Cs to spend elsewhere while adding a needed frontcourt piece.
Brandon Williams
Dallas Mavericks free agent guard Brandon Williams fits the perimeter speed that Stevens mentioned last week. The 26-year-old is coming off of the strongest season of his four-year career, having started 15 games for the Mavs this past season.
He averaged 13.0 points, 3.9 assists, and 2.4 rebounds in 22.2 minutes per game. Williams isn’t a great, or even good, three-point shooter, having knocked down just 23.2% of his triples in the 2025-26 campaign, but he would give the Cs some added rim pressure.
The Los Angeles native averaged 3.7 rim attempts per game last season, putting him in the 88th percentile, per Databallr.
Defense remains a question, though. The advanced metrics don’t love his production on that end.
You probably haven’t heard of Williams, so enjoy some highlights, he’s a fun watch.
Anfernee Simons
Much to the contrary, Celtics fans should be extremely familiar with Anfernee Simons. Simons played 49 games for Boston last season, before being dealt to the Chicago Bulls for Vucevic in February.
Though the Orlando native came to Boston as part of a second-apron-inspired move that sent Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers, he quickly impressed and proved to be more than some numbers on a spreadsheet.
Simons thrived as a catch-and-shoot threat for the Cs, and even caught fire enough to will the team to multiple wins -- most notably his 39-point explosion against the Miami Heat.
Much like Looney, Stein and Fischer reported that Simons is coveted by the Celtics. Boston, along with the Bulls and Warriors, plans to pursue the microwave guard this summer.
A reunion has always somewhat been in the cards. Simons immediately voiced interest in a return to the Cs in his first game back in TD Garden as a Bull.
“For sure, obviously, we gotta finish our season [in Chicago] first and then see what happens there,” Simons explained when asked if he’d consider coming back to Boston, via CLNS Media. “For sure, down the line. I said it, I enjoyed my time here. I built great relationships here. So, I see it for sure.”
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