The Boston Celtics are looking to become the first repeat champions since 2018 this year, but things haven’t been going smoothly. After a hot start to the season, the Celtics have effectively been playing .500 basketball since the start of December. Yet somehow, they’ve only lost two in a row once this season.
There have been plenty of contributing factors to the Celtics’ struggles. They haven’t been sharp on defense, their role players have been cold from three at times, and their bench unit has been a bit up and down. Al Horford looks a year older (because he is), Sam Hauser has been inconsistent (though he’s been hot lately), and Payton Pritchard has cooled off a bit from his hot start.
With that in mind, Brad Stevens could have some work to do at the trade deadline if Boston wants to remain championship favorites.
Celtics should stay active at the trade deadline
The Celtics don’t have much financial flexibility to make moves at this year’s deadline as they are a second-apron team. They can’t combine salaries in trades, and they can’t take back more salary than they send out in a deal.
And considering they almost certainly won’t look to trade anyone in their actual rotation, that leaves the likes of Jaden Springer and Xavier Tillman as their most realistic trade assets.
Springer makes just over $4 million, and Tillman makes a bit more than $2.3 million. That means the Celtics could trade for anyone who makes under $4 million (from a financial standpoint).
If the Celtics want to keep pace as the title favorites, a race they may have already lost ground on, they should look to improve their roster, even if it’s just a minor addition.
Perhaps that means adding a wing to make up for Hauser’s down year. There are some interesting options available, including Julian Champagnie, Jake LaRavia, or Celtics champion Svi Mykhailiuk.
Maybe they want to get another big man to help ease the load on Horford and make up for Tillman’s rough season. Guys like Trendon Watford, Guerschon Yabusele, and Sandro Mamukelashvili could be options.
The point is that the Celtics could use a new infusion of talent if they want to remain the top team in the league because the bottom of their roster currently has some flaws.
As the Oklahoma City Thunder, Cleveland Cavaliers, and the other top teams in the league poinder potential deadline improvements, Boston needs to do the same.