Ramp to Camp: Exploring Potential In-Season Trades for the Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Brad Stevens is not one to rest on his laurels.
A year ago, when Boston could have easily kept the core of his team together, Stevens needed two big hits to land Kristaps Porzingis And Jrue’s HolidaysThose moves helped propel Boston toward the elusive Banner 18.
Although the summer has been rather quiet for Stevens – although he has re-signing a group of key playersink Jayson Tatum And Derrick White to big budget extensions and use the first first-round pick of his general manager term — THE The Celts essentially elected to lead the new core of this team for 2024-25 with the hope that the chemistry could fuel a title repeat.
But that doesn’t mean Stevens won’t consider a move. Even after Boston’s winning season, he said he wanted to give the team a chance to continue its momentum, but he wouldn’t sit back if things went south.
For the eighth part of our Camp access ramp series, we asked our NBC Sports Boston panel to play armchair general manager and pick one potential move Stevens could make during the 2024-25 season.
(See the the first seven episodes of Ramp to Camp here.)
If first round pick Baylor Scheierman carves out a role in the first year, or if the camp invites Lonnie Walker IV proves he can be an effective presence on the benchSo Stevens may not need to make many changes to his equipment this season.
There will obviously be eyes on the great man with Kristaps Porzingis out to start season following offseason leg surgery. But it seems like we’ve spilled a lot of ink on Boston’s center depth and players like Luc Kornet And Neemias Queta proved they could hold the fort.
The only potential movement we see in our crystal ball is around Jaden Springer. The Celtics acquired former first-round pick at last season’s trade deadline, but he’s entering the final year of his rookie contract and will make $4 million this season. (That’s basically what the bench stalwarts Sam Hauser and Luke Kornet will win together this season.)
The Celtics, with their luxury tax concerns, might be willing to pay to let Springer develop in the shadows, but they might also aspire to move that salary to 1) reduce their tax burden and 2) make any potential additions during the year.
The start of the season could force Stevens’ hand. If Boston’s bigs hold the fort while Porzingis is out, there may be no greater urgency to add a big. If Hauser and Payton Pritchard continue to thrive in backup roles, perhaps the team is content to roll with a bench that is otherwise thin in terms of experience (at least for Al Horford fills Porzingis’ starting role).
But the team will likely explore moves on the perimeter. Walker IV will have a chance to assert himself during camp, but the Celtics have some flexibility to consider late-season moves.
(Full disclosure: We had fully planned to make an absurd business proposal that would bring Robert Williams III back from Portlandbut the Celtics can’t bundle contracts as a second-tier team. We may just have to wait until Time Lord hits the free agent market in the summer of 2026).
Here’s what our panel thinks about Stevens’ possible action:
Is there anyone left to extend? Neemias Queta? JD Davison?
(Forsberg: Stevens likes extensions. But Jaden Springer is the only player eligible for an extension to start the year.)
Tom GilesMulti-platform host
I loved the Blake Griffin A few years ago, I would have loved to be on the championship team. So, just for fun, why not bring along a veteran with playoff experience? Almost like PJ Brown or Sam Cassell circa 2008. Maybe. Jeff Green? He has championship experience.
Max LedermanMulti-platform producer
The Celtics are pretty limited in what they can actually do, but if they can find another big to help them eat up some innings with Porzingis out, that would be nice.
Mark Hazlett, Multiplatform Producer
It’s tough. This team has few holes, it’s deep, and the chemistry is off the charts, so any trade is likely to happen. I’m just scouring the G League for a potential wing player who’s more NBA ready than Jordan Walsh And Anton Watson in case one of the Jays falls.
Exchange for Saddiq Bey. The Wizards’ versatile wing is a certified Celtics killer (49.4% 3-point shooting vs. Boston), so you know he’s on Brad Stevens’ radar. If Walker doesn’t pan out, Bey would be a great trade deadline pick as a 3-point and defensive forward on a reasonable contract (three years, $19 million).
Trade for Torrey Craig. He’s a versatile defender who’s also made 39 percent of his three-point attempts over the last two seasons. The Bulls aren’t very good and Craig is under contract. Adding a three-point and defensive wing would be a smart move, especially if Walker doesn’t fit in or struggles to stay healthy.
(Forsberg:Craig is making $2.8 million this season after triggering his player option in Chicago.)
Despite the solidity of Pritchard and Hauser, the Celtics ranked 26th in bench scoring last season. How about a veteran presence who could add some punch to the second unit? Maybe a Boston native who grew up dreaming of playing for the C’s? Bruce Brown Jr. checks those boxes and the Raptors will likely make him available at the deadline.
(Forsberg:Brown Jr. is set to make $22 million this season for a Toronto team with a high salary cap, making it difficult to land big-money deals.)
Kevin Miller, Vice President, Content
This is a bit of a cop-out as it lacks some details, but if any moves are made during the season, I think they would center around health issues (i.e. Porzingis not fully returning, someone else getting injured).
