For months, it's felt like a foregone conclusion that the Boston Celtics would trade for a center at the deadline. After parting with Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford in the offseason, the team entered 2025-26 with the five spot being a clear position of need. Are we sure that's still the case?
Neemias Queta, Portuguese legend, has been playing some solid basketball as of late, and it's raised a legit question: Is another center worth acquiring if it means giving up assets when Queta has developed into a borderline starting-caliber center in his own right?
Centers likely won't come cheap in the next couple of days. If the Celtics want to add a starting-level center (of which there does to be a few available), they may need to part with a first-round pick. But would the difference between that center and Queta be large enough to justify losing a legit asset?
Or, would the thought process from the Celtics be that Queta — plus whoever may be acquired — is a stronger enough frontcourt than Queta and Luka Garza to warrant a deal?
Either way, a trade that once felt inevitable now feels like more of a coin flip as we barrel toward the deadline. It's definitely not out of the question and the Celtics should do their due diligence on available frontcourt pieces, but it doesn't feel so desperate right now.
Celtics might be better off keeping assets and rolling with Queta
I know the Celtics want to capitalize on a season that's been far more exciting than anyone anticipated. But this version of the team is good enough to compete as is, and losing sight of the future is a dangerous game to play.
Queta is not always great, but he's never quite bad enough to where it feels like a marginally better center would swing playoff games in the Celtics favor. And on many nights, he looks like a pretty viable starting center! The effort is always there, and that counts for an awful lot in today's league.
If there's a center who the Celtics can nab for a few future second-rounders, then they might as well. But to add any of the real difference-makers in the next few days, there will probably have to be some valuable future pieces given up in a deal. The team is already playing with house money, but sometimes the best move is to cash out and go home instead of pushing your luck.