Brad Stevens explains the Celtics’ trade ideas to improve their centre of gravity.
With their current big man rotation, Boston is content, thus a trade is improbable.
With a 26-7 record, the Boston Celtics lead the NBA as the trade deadline of February 8 draws near. Although depth hasn’t become an issue as much as some had feared before the season started, as is typically the case with championship contenders approaching the trade deadline, keeping an eye on the market will be vital.
The centre position immediately stands out as one of the Celtics’ most pressing requirements. After Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford, Luke Kornet and two-way big man Neemias Queta are the last players standing.
However, it’s far easier said than done to add an improvement at the 5.
President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens stated, “First of all, adding a rotation centre, that would have to be one hell of a player, right?” at Thursday afternoon’s Celtics practice. “When you consider [that], we have some pretty talented players. Regarding what we’re searching for and what we’re probably going to do, particularly given our current tool situation, I believe there aren’t many significant changes we can accomplish without affecting our key players.
When it comes to this year’s trade deadline, Boston’s main asset is the Traded Player Exception, or approximately $6.2 million, that they acquired in the Grant Williams trade during the summer.
Finding a team willing to trade a player on a deal like that complicates matters even more. It would be challenging to add a quality player at that pay.
Guys making less than that are either on rookie-scale agreements, minor contracts, or minimum contracts that “teams aren’t exactly excited to move on from yet,” according to Stevens during practice.
Perhaps more significantly, he has been pleased with the amount of play Boston’s current centre rotation has produced.
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“We’ve obviously [gotten] good play, great play out of Kristaps. I think Al has been good. I think Luke and Neemy, when called upon, have both added great value. And so, you know, if we end up adding somebody, you know, I don’t know that it will be a game-changer in the way that you said it from the rotation standpoint.”
