The Boston Celtics were once again busy at the NBA trade deadline, but this time around felt… different.
The biggest move of the week came in the much-anticipated trade of Anfernee Simons.
Although the guard was playing great, paying $27 million for a bench piece was not feasible.
He was flipped into a scoring big, Nikola Vucevic, who will be a day-one starter.
Then Boston sent away veteran flyer Chris Boucher. Boucher had only played 6 minutes in 2026, but the move saved the Celtics a little money and gave the 33-year-old a chance to play elsewhere.
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Thursday, in the final hours of the deadline, Boston made a third and final move in a minimally covered move that traded away fan-favorite bench player Josh Minott.
> The Boston Celtics are trading Josh Minott to the Brooklyn Nets, sources tell ESPN.
>
> What do you think? [Leave a comment.](javascript:void(0))
>
> — Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) [February 5, 2026](https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/2019485135742058868?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
Minott has played in just five games in 2026 after starting the season as a 20-minute-per-game type of player. The turnaround in his usage was neck-breaking.
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At the end of the day, head coach Joe Mazzulla has settled into a rotation that relies on players like Bailey Scheierman and Luka Garza at power forward.
This deal sends the young player to a team that will likely play him much more. When paired with Boucher’s contract, the two moves shed $5.2 million in cap space.
This is more than just a money-saving tactic. The two moves put the Celtics under the first apron, which means they can now sign any buyout candidates that make themselves available.
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The Celtics did not receive a player in return for either Minott or Boucher.
Featured image via David Butler II/Imagn Images