8 potential trade deadline candidates that could make sense for Celtics

The NBA commerce deadline is lower than per week away, and it seems the Celtics will do one thing. However we nonetheless don’t know what.

Most stories in latest weeks have indicated that the Celtics are looking for to make an addition to their roster quite than take a vendor’s strategy forward of Thursday’s commerce deadline. However ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst cautioned that the Celtics are unlikely to take “huge swings” within the coming days.

If that’s the case, you’ll be able to probably rule Grizzlies star huge man Jaren Jackson Jr. out as a possible goal for the Celtics. Clippers standout heart Ivica Zubac may also fall into that class, contemplating a number of the All-Star buzz he acquired final season.

So, which gamers might the Celtics add that aren’t thought-about an enormous swing? Let’s check out seven candidates whereas contemplating Boston’s want for an enormous man and its standing as a staff within the first luxurious tax apron.

Nic Claxton, C, Nets

Claxton is likely to be overqualified to be on this checklist, however he hasn’t been mentioned as a lot as Zubac or Jackson. So, we’ll embrace him on right here for now.

Claxton, 26, is among the stronger defensive bigs within the league. He completed top-10 in Defensive Participant of the 12 months voting simply three years in the past, and has ranked within the top-15 in blocks per sport over the past 4 years.

Offensively, Claxton has averaged 12.3 factors and a stunning 4.1 factors per sport this season. But when he have been in Boston, Claxton would nearly actually take a step again and develop into extra of a rim-running huge.

The Celtics have inquired about probably buying and selling for Claxton, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer. A commerce for Claxton would probably require the Celtics giving up Anfernee Simons, although, because the Nets’ huge man makes $25.3 million this season.

Daniel Gafford, C, Mavericks

Gafford helped give a defensive spark to the Mavericks once they traded for him forward of the 2024 deadline, however his function has diminished in Dallas in latest weeks. Nonetheless, Gafford can be a worthwhile addition for the Celtics as he’s averaging 7.8 factors, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per sport this season.

The one roadblock in getting a deal executed for Gafford is that each the Celtics and Mavericks are within the first luxurious tax apron. So, it wouldn’t be a one-for-one swap, and each groups would probably want so as to add a number of gamers with a purpose to get the deal executed because of Gafford’s $14.4 million wage this season. Gafford’s additionally beneath contract for 3 extra seasons, so the Celtics may need to sweeten the pot a bit.

Keon Ellis, G, Kings

Ellis is the one non-big man on our checklist, because the Celtics are among the many handful of groups within the Kings’ guard, according to Fischer.

Regardless that the Celtics don’t essentially want guard assist, it’s simple to see why they is likely to be interested by Ellis. The fourth-year participant has proven promise on each ends of the ground, making 41.6 p.c of his profession 3-pointers and he’s averaging 1.1 steals in 17.6 minutes per sport this season. Ellis has put up 5.6 factors per sport this yr.

Ellis is making simply $2.3 million this yr, which is the ultimate yr of his present deal. Matching salaries received’t be powerful, however contemplating how effectively Ellis performs on that wage, there’s seemingly loads of competitors to get him.

Yyves Missi, C, Pelicans

The Celtics have been just lately linked to Missi, a 21-year-old heart that the Pelicans need a first-round choose for in the event that they have been to commerce him, HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported.

Missi, who’s in his second season, has been a standout for the Pelicans in his younger profession. Whereas he’s averaging simply 5.6 factors and 5.7 rebounds per sport, Missi’s 1.3 blocks in 19 minutes per sport is a fairly spectacular mark. Scotto famous that groups are intrigued by Missi’s body and shot-blocking capability as he stands at 6-foot-11.

Buying and selling for Missi can be one of many simpler strikes the Celtics might make, a minimum of from a wage standpoint. Missi’s making simply over $3 million this season, a wage the Celtics can match with out having to surrender a core participant.

Day’Ron Sharpe, C, Nets

It looks as if each notable participant on the Nets’ roster is likely to be on the buying and selling block forward of the deadline. That features Sharpe, who’s averaging eight factors and 6.4 rebounds per sport this season.

Sharpe has proven potential to be a plus participant on the defensive as effectively. He’s truly averaging 1.1 steals in 18 minutes per sport this season, which is sort of the identical variety of steals that Derrick White’s averaging this season.

The Celtics ought to have the ability to match Sharpe’s $6.25 million wage in any potential commerce. The query can be if they’d need to quit a number of gamers they’ve drafted lately, as the simplest solution to get a commerce for Sharpe executed.

Andre Drummond, C, 76ers

If the Celtics need to be sure that rebounding is rarely a problem for them, buying and selling for Drummond is likely to be the way in which to go. The veteran is having one other standout season on the boards, averaging 8.7 rebounds in simply 19.6 minutes per sport.

In fact, there’s extra to the sport than rebounding, and Drummond doesn’t provide a lot past that. Nonetheless, he has made a career-high 17 3-pointers already this season, so perhaps he’s auditioning for a spot on the Celtics’ roster?

Jokes apart, Drummond can be one other simpler participant for the Celtics to commerce for. He’s making $5 million this yr, so matching salaries is extra possible.

Isaiah Jackson, F, Pacers

One other participant the Celtics might go after to strengthen their rebounding is Jackson. Whereas Jackson’s averaging 6.5 factors and 5.4 rebounds per sport, his 4.9 offensive rebounds per 36 minutes is the ninth-best mark within the league.

Jackson was additionally one of many sport’s higher shot blockers prior to ripping his Achilles final season. He was within the top-10 blocks per 100 possessions within the two seasons previous to that.

Jackson is beneath contract for 2 extra seasons and is making $7.6 million this season. So, getting a deal executed is likely to be a bit of harder because the Celtics would probably need to ship a couple of gamers to the Pacers with a purpose to get a deal executed.

Goga Bitadze, C, Magic

Bitadze has a little bit of an identical profile as Jackson, together with his metrics indicating that he’s a stronger offensive rebounder and shot blocker than his per sport numbers would possibly counsel. Bitadze has been within the prime 15 in offensive rebounds per 36 minutes and 100 possessions in every of the final three seasons, together with this yr. His 1.2 blocks per sport is the Twentieth-best mark within the league this season, additionally rating within the prime 10 in blocks per 100 possessions within the final three years.

The 26-year-old has decreased his vary as his profession has progressed. So, he’s not stretching the ground a lot offensively, however he’s taking pictures 67.6 p.c from the sphere this season as he’s averaging 5.9 factors in 16.4 minutes per sport.

Bitadze is making $8.3 million this season and is beneath contract for subsequent yr. Contemplating that, a commerce bundle for Bitadze would possibly look just like a possible commerce bundle for Jackson.