No, it's not a blockbuster trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Given his injury history, the mileage on his tires, and his style of play, trading for him is too risky a proposition, in this author's opinion. You're either breaking up Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown or taking a sledgehammer to the current roster.
Kevin Durant is another star who could help the Boston Celtics raise banner 19 to the TD Garden rafters. However, the Houston Rockets just suffered a first-round exit and had to finish the series without him. Team chemistry issues have also followed him in recent years. That could be a red flag, especially for an organization that places a premium on its culture.
Antetokounmpo or Durant could arrive in Boston and deliver the desired results. However, a franchise employing Tatum and Brown has the luxury of taking a more measured approach to build its next title team.
For the Celtics, their best bet could be on Isaiah Hartenstein.
The combination of him and Neemias Queta would give Boston a potent 1-2 punch at a position that was an area of weakness in the playoffs. Hartenstein's passing, dribble-handoffs, and impact as a screener would help keep the offense humming. His floaters and ability to finish in the paint would bring a welcome boost.
So would his ability to extend possessions. The seven-foot-center averaged 3.2 offensive rebounds this season. That ranked sixth among those who appeared in at least 45 games while logging at least 24 minutes.
Hartenstein can operate effectively as a stand-alone center or in a double-big construct. However, if the options are pairing him with Neemias Queta or Luka Garza, those duos might only get utilized sparingly.
The eight-year veteran would be going from one defensive menace to another. The Celtics held opponents to the fewest points per game this season; the Oklahoma City Thunder were less than a point behind them.
Working in concert with an abundance of swarming perimeter defenders, the former second-round pick registered a 103.2 defensive rating. He grabbed 24.3 percent of available rebounds at that end of the floor. That represents the highest defensive rebounding percentage on the team and the fifth-best in the NBA. Hartenstein yielded the fewest points in the paint [18.7] this season, per NBA.com. Neemias Queta was second [19.1]. The former also contested 6.8 shots per contest. That placed inside the top 30.
Is the Celtics signing Isaiah Hartenstein realistic?
He would stabilize the center position, make Boston a more physical team for opponents to battle with, elevate the offense, and help his new squad win on the margins.
Whether he joins the Celtics or relocates elsewhere, the Thunder may ultimately decide he's too expensive to retain under this punitive collective bargaining agreement.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander signed a supermax contract extension after the MVP led Oklahoma City to a championship last season. His deal won't hit the books until the 2027-28 campaign. However, the maximum salary extensions for Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren will go into effect in 2026-27. The organization must account for all three while deciding what's palatable and what isn't this summer.
Hartenstein's $28.5 million club option could be the key to him remaining with the Thunder. However, not everyone can stay, and what he gets offered on the open market could lead to his departure.
If that's the case, Boston has a $27.7 million traded-player exception [TPE], created when the franchise sent Anfernee Simons to the Chicago Bulls. They also have the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, valued at just over $15 million. However, if the 28-year-old center's market is that low, it probably suggests he and his current team can work something out to keep an individual it would prefer to retain.
Price-wise, the Celtics absorbing his contract with their largest TPE is an excellent use of it. That's also a salary range that could pry Hartenstein from Oklahoma City. Having the means to afford him doesn't mean they'll get him, even if he switches teams this summer. However, Boston can sweeten the deal to get this done.
So, while Hartenstein donning green next summer doesn't feel like an option that fans should hold their breath for, the Celtics have a realistic pathway to pull this off. It's not the summer blockbuster that acquiring Antetokounmpo or Durant would represent. However, it's a move that could lead to Boston's next championship and be what's best for the franchise beyond the upcoming campaign.
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