Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla looks on from the bench during the second quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at TD Garden.
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Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla looks on from the bench during the second quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at TD Garden.
The Boston Celtics are well-positioned to operate as buyers as the February 5 trade deadline approaches.
With Anfernee Simons’ $27.6 million expiring contract standing out as their most significant trade chip, Boston has both the flexibility and incentive to explore upgrades.
Firmly in the title picture at 29-17 and sitting second in the Eastern Conference, with Jaylen Brown playing at an MVP-level and Jayson Tatum potentially returning later in the season, all signs point to Brad Stevens actively surveying the market.
Boston Celtics Zeroing In on Frontcourt Help
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Celtics are increasingly focused on adding a starting calibre center to reinforce a frontcourt currently held together by Neemias Queta, Luka Garza, and two-way big Amari Williams.
“They’ve been in the marketplace, trying to go get a big-time starting center potentially,” Charania said on The Pat McAfee Show. “So, they’re gonna be, I think, aggressive in moving the needle. They’ve got assets, they’ve got contracts to use and play with.”
ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel reported that Ivica Zubac, Daniel Gafford, and Nic Claxton sit atop Boston’s internal wishlist. Among that group, Zubac appears particularly intriguing.
Siegel’s colleague Tom Azerly has suggested there could be a workable framework for discussions, with the Clippers believed to be monitoring Simons’ situation.
While all three could fit the “big-time starting center” profile Boston is reportedly targeting, acquiring any of them would likely come at a significant cost.
That reality has opened the door to more economical alternatives.
Secondary Targets Offer Cost-Effective Options
Siegel also outlined a secondary tier of centers who could provide meaningful help without requiring the Celtics to part with Simons or disrupt the core of the roster.
“Then again, perhaps the Celtics can find their impactful center without trading Simons, especially with names like Day’Ron Sharpe, Yves Missi, and Andre Drummond on the block,” he wrote.
One name to watch closely is Yves Missi. Forbes’ Evan Sidery previously reported Boston’s interest in the New Orleans Pelicans center, noting that competition for his services could be fierce.
“Yves Missi is generating significant interest on the trade market once the Pelicans were open to fielding offers,” Sidery reported. “The Celtics, Knicks, Lakers, Pacers, Raptors, and Warriors are among the teams who recently inquired on Missi.”
After earning All-Rookie Second Team honors in 2024-25 while averaging 9.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks, Missi’s production has dipped during his sophomore season.
Through 38 games, he is averaging 5.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks, largely the result of a fluctuating role amid organizational changes in New Orleans.
Even so, his impact on the glass remains clear. The 6-foot-11 center is averaging 3.0 offensive rebounds per game, ranking 19th league-wide, a skill set that would translate immediately within Boston’s thin frontcourt rotation.
Financially, Missi checks several important boxes. He remains on a four-year, $15.6 million rookie-scale deal, earning $3.3 million this season and $3.5 million in 2026-27, with a $5.5 million team option for 2027-28.
That profile makes him a low-cost, long-term developmental piece rather than a cap-clogging commitment, one Stevens could pursue aggressively if the opportunity arises, all while keeping Simons intact as a valuable asset.