Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics
Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics have reached the part of the season where their success begins to complicate decisions.
What was framed as a transition year has turned into something completely different. Boston has remained near the top of the Eastern Conference despite navigating injuries, several key departures, and a shifting rotation. That steadiness has changed the tone around the trade deadline.
The Celtics are not chasing urgency. They are evaluating margins.
That is why the center position continues to surface in trade discussions, even as Boston keeps finding ways to win. A recent trade concept from FanSided’s Quinn Everts fits squarely within that conversation.
Why the Center Question Still Exists
Boston’s current rotation has produced one of the season’s more pleasant surprises.
Neemias Queta has delivered physicality, rim protection, and energy in minutes that were far from guaranteed entering the year. Luka Garza has given the Celtics reliable offense and composure when called upon, holding his own in a role that requires consistency more than flash.
Together, they have exceeded expectations.
But the margins remain thin.
Boston has had stretches where rebounding and second-chance points have tilted games in subtle ways. Against larger or more physical frontcourts, the glass can become an issue even when the defensive scheme holds.
That reality explains why one name continues to fit cleanly.
CelticsUnite
Need Zubac in green like I need air.
Why Ivica Zubac Makes Sense for the Celtics
Ivica Zubac checks the most obvious box the Celtics still circle.
He rebounds at a high level. He occupies space. He absorbs physical matchups that wear down smaller lineups over the course of a series. He does not require touches to stay effective and does not disrupt offensive structure.
For a Celtics team built around discipline and spacing, Zubac would not change identity. He would reinforce it.
His presence would ease the rebounding burden across the lineup and reduce the number of possessions where Boston needs perfect execution just to finish defensive stops. That is why the idea persists.
From a basketball perspective, Zubac is an easy sell. But from a roster-building perspective, the framework matters more than the name.
If a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers requires Boston to part with Payton Pritchard, the logic breaks down. Pritchard has become a reliable part of Boston’s ecosystem, providing shooting, pace, and lineup flexibility on a contract that is difficult to replace.
That cost would outweigh the gain.
How This Fits Boston’s Bigger Picture
Zubac is not the only big man Boston has been linked to.
The Celtics have also reportedly shown interest in Jaren Jackson Jr., a former Defensive Player of the Year whose impact would fundamentally alter Boston’s defensive ceiling and postseason versatility. Jackson represents a different tier of move, one that would justify significant cost and long-term financial commitment.
Zubac sits on the other end of that spectrum.
He does not raise the ceiling. He strengthens the foundation.
That distinction matters for a team that has thrived on restraint.
CelticsUnite
“Multiple league sources have asserted something whispered in the wind for a long time: The Boston Celtics would love to add Jaren Jackson Jr”
Via @HPbasketball 👀
Final Word for the Celtics
Zubac would help Boston on the glass. He would steady center minutes. And he would make certain matchups easier to manage over a long postseason.
But the Celtics are not in a position where they need to force that solution.
Queta and Garza have been welcome surprises. The rotation is functioning. And the season’s defining trait has been knowing when to wait.
If the price protects Boston’s depth and flexibility, Zubac is a move worth exploring.
If it costs pieces the Celtics already rely on, the smarter play is patience.
That balance has carried Boston this far.