Boston Celtics to examine trade options to add to big-man depth given key deficiencies from non-guaranteed backup

As NBC Sports Boston's Chris Forsberg relayed, the Boston Celtics will be exploring trade options to address their needs at the 5 given the team's rebounding issues when Kristaps Porzingis is off the floor and Luke Kornet is on it.

"The Celtics’ lack of pure size is well-documented," Forsberg prefaced before saying, "The team is leaning heavy on 37-year-old Al Horford and the oft-injured Kristaps Porzingis. That has thrust Luke Kornet into a hefty role, and Boston’s defensive rebound rate is a team-worst 69.6 when he’s on the court. 

"We’ve long suspected the Celtics will examine options to add big-man depth before the trade deadline, if only to help ease the burden on their centers during the regular season. Kornet has had encouraging moments but second-chance opportunities have felt like back-breakers at times this season -- particularly when opponents are chipping away at runs."

Boston Celtics have limited trade options outside of attaching draft picks to non-guaranteed contracts

Just about any Celtics fan paying attention to the 2023-24 season thus far would resist to including any of Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, both of whom couldn't be traded anyway due to their signed extensions, Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday, and Derrick White; while trading Al Horford isn't an idea that has caught any traction following a slow start and a strong comeback in the past few weeks as a sixth man.

With Payton Pritchard also off the table due to his own long-term re-signing, the Celtics have very limited assets to offer outside of cap relief and draft picks from now until the trade deadline.

Brad Stevens has been creative in improving his roster every season since taking charge as President of Basketball Operations, but it looks like he'll have to focus more on the buyout market than the trade market as the calendar turns to 2024.