This was, in theory, supposed to be a gap season for the Boston Celtics. Between Jayson Tatum's Achilles injury and the cost-cutting moves made by the front office this summer, the Celtics were seemingly bracing for a temporary break from the NBA title race.
Well, plans have clearly changed. With Jaylen Brown's entry into the MVP race, developmental success stories all over the roster, and their trademark success from three, the Celtics are once again rubbing elbows with basketball's elites. And they apparently have every intention to reclaim that status sooner than later with HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reporting that the Celtics are among the teams "registering interest" in Memphis Grizzlies two-time All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr.
A Jaren Jackson Jr. trade could change everything for the Celtics.
With a Tatum return feeling increasingly possible for this season, Boston can start entertaining championship dreams again. If it really wanted to turn distant hopes into achievable goals, though, then it probably needs to bulk up a big-man collection that was torn apart this summer.
Multiple centers would make sense for the Celtics, but Jackson would be a different type of upgrade. Maybe this roster could make it work with a solid-not-spectacular upgrade, but when Boston had this league wrapped around its finger, it could tie that success directly to an unrivaled collection of high-end talent.
The Celtics would have trouble making that claim now because the Oklahoma City Thunder exist—and the alien-steered San Antonio Spurs aren't too shabby—but maybe there's a debate worth having if they got Tatum back to his pre-injury form and added Jackson, who's a certified star and a tailored fit for this team.
While many potential big-man additions would threaten this squad's spacing, Jackson could actually enhance it. He can be a bit streaky, but he has still splashed his way to 1.9 triples per night on 37.4 percent shooting since the start of last season. For context, the only Celtics hitting threes at this volume and efficiency are Anfernee Simons and Sam Hauser.
So, Jackson would strengthen what's already a superpower for the Shamrocks, and he could go a step further by addressing different needs. For instance, Boston's 14th-ranked defense could use a lift, and he'd provide a big one as a former Defensive Player of the Year and three-time All-Defensive honoree. He'd also give this group more flexibility on that end, since he's disruptive as both an interior anchor and perimeter-switcher.
The Celtics could probably use more support scoring, too, especially if their center search winds up costing them Simons (and maybe Hauser as well). Well, Jackson is pumping in 18.8 points per outing as we speak, and this is actually a three-year low for him.
To put all of this in the simplest form, Jackson would add knockout power to Boston's best punch and check additional boxes in its winning formula. Plus, the Celtics would get multiple cracks at the crown with him, since he's only 26 and signed through at least 2028-29 (player option for 2029-30).
It would cost a fortune for Boston to get a deal done, but rewards don't get any richer than league domination. Maybe the Celtics can impact the championship race without him, but with him, they just might wind up controlling it for years to come.