Boston Celtics general manager Brad Stevens
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With the Celtics outperforming expectations, Brad Stevens must now balance long-term vision with short-term opportunity at the trade deadline.
With less than two months before the NBA trade deadline, Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens is making it clear the organization will not rush to define this team’s ceiling.
Boston has emerged as one of the NBA’s early surprises during the 2025-26 season. Despite losing Jayson Tatum to a torn Achilles last postseason and watching much of its frontcourt depth depart in the offseason, the Celtics sit tied for fourth in the Eastern Conference at 15-11.
That strong start has reshaped how Boston approaches the upcoming trade deadline.
“We will not put a ceiling on this group,” Stevens said. “If it makes sense for us to look for things that can help us, we certainly will. But it all has to be within good deals, and it all has to be within the ultimate goal, which is the North Star of retooling so we’re in a position to compete for what we want to compete for.”
That “North Star,” as Stevens described it, remains championship contention. The question is how Boston gets there. The Celtics must decide whether patience, a targeted short-term push, or a hybrid approach best serves that long-term vision.
Celtics Playing Above Expectations
Through 26 games, Boston owns the NBA’s sixth-best net rating at plus-5.9. That profile typically belongs to top-tier contenders, not teams navigating a transitional year.
The Celtics have leaned heavily on small lineups due to limited depth at center and power forward. Injuries and roster turnover forced head coach Joe Mazzulla to adjust early. Boston responded by relying on the growth of players like Payton Pritchard while leaning more into playing through All-Star forward Jaylen Brown. Brown, now sits as the 6th leading scorer in the NBA with a career-high 29.3 points along with 6.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists while shooting 50 percent from the field and 36 percent from three.
Those adjustments have produced results. Despite dropping their last two games, the Celtics remain firmly in the playoff picture. The Eastern Conference remains compressed, though. Boston and ninth-place Miami are separated by just one game. That context has encouraged Stevens to take a measured approach.
Frontcourt Help Remains Logical Trade Target
If Boston decides to add, the frontcourt stands out as the clearest area of need. The Celtics lack reliable size behind their primary rotation, which has increased the workload on smaller lineups.
Jay King of The Athletic reported that Anfernee Simons, who is on an expiring $27.7 million contract, could be a name to monitor. Simons is not a frontcourt player, but his salary slot could help facilitate a larger or multi-team deal. Boston holds two tradeable first-round picks and three pick swaps. That asset base gives Stevens flexibility. Financial realities complicate any move.
The Celtics sit roughly $12.1 million over the luxury tax threshold. Any addition would require outgoing salary to limit further tax exposure. That opens another possibility. Boston could opt to shed salary rather than add it.
Jayson Tatum’s Recovery Looms Over Deadline Plans
Boston’s most significant variable remains Tatum. Stevens provided a detailed update on the All-Star’s recovery but declined to offer a timeline.
“There’s the strength thresholds he has to meet,” Stevens said. “And then, after that, several weeks of progressions, from scripted against small groups to unscripted play.”
Stevens said Tatum has made “great strides” in rehabilitation. Boston did not apply for a disabled player exception, which would only have been available if Tatum were expected to miss the entire season. That decision signals internal optimism, even as the team continues to prioritize caution.
For now, Stevens appears content to let the season shape his decision. Boston has played well enough to justify belief without forcing urgency. The Celtics remain competitive, flexible, and asset-rich. As trade season nears, those traits give Boston multiple paths forward. How aggressively Stevens chooses to pursue one remains the unanswered question.