Joe Mazzulla
Getty
Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla during a game against the Detroit Pistons in October 2025
As the 2025-26 NBA trade deadline approaches on February 5, the Boston Celtics have turned into a potential buyer.
Despite starting off the season expecting to have a down year due to the absence of Jayson Tatum and the offseason trades of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, the Celtics have been one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.
Led by the breakout season of Jaylen Brown and an excellent supporting cast, Boston might just try to add talent before the deadline. To be exact, the Celtics are interested in buying at the center position. They want a player who can help them both this season and into the future.
Quite a few potential trade targets have been suggested for Boston. There is no shortage of center options on the market.
However, a name has been thrown into the mix that would shake up the landscape of the NBA.
Boston Celtics Linked to $186 Million Potential Trade Target
Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey has predicted that the Celtics will indeed pull off a trade for a center before the deadline. He also mentioned some names who could make sense.
One of those names was Sacramento Kings‘ three-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis.
“Neemias Queta and Luka Garza have been a big part of Boston exceeding expectations, but that’s certainly an upgradable spot,” Bailey wrote. “And with players like Day’Ron Sharpe, Nicolas Claxton, Nikola Vučević or maybe even Domantas Sabonis potentially on the market, the Celtics should have some intriguing options at that spot.”
Nicolas Claxton, Nikola Vucevic, and Sabonis would all be nice upgrades for Boston in the front-court. However, out of those three names, Sabonis would be the most lucrative trade options.
Sabonis is in the second year of the four-year, $186 million contract that he signed with the Kings. He will have two years remaining on his deal following the 2025-26 season.
He would check the boxes that the Celtics are looking for at the trade deadline.
Domantas Sabonis Would Be a Lethal Addition for the Celtics
So far this season, the 29-year-old Sabonis has only been able to play in 18 games and has made 14 starts. He missed a lot of time due to injury, but has been back on the court since mid-January.
In the 18 games he has played, Sabonis has averaged 15.4 points, 11.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 0.9 steals per game, while shooting 54.2 percent from the floor and 18.5 percent from three-point range.
Last season, his numbers looked much better. He played in 70 games and averaged 19.1 points per game to go along with 13.9 rebounds and six assists. Sabonis shot 59 percent from the floor and 41.7 percent from three-point distance.
If he can get back to playing how he played last year, Boston would take a huge leap forward by acquiring him.
No one knows what Sacramento’s price tag would be on Sabonis. He won’t come cheap, but the Celtics are focused on building an NBA Finals contender and he would fit in perfectly.