What options do the Celtics have before the 2025 NBA trade deadline? first appeared on NBC sports Boston
The Boston Celtics have started their NBA title defense very well with a 21-6 record through 27 games.
It’s Jayson Tatum A legitimate MVP candidate. Jaylen Brown is playing fantastic after won Finals MVP in June. Payton Pritchard is arguably the one leading the way for Sixth Person of the Year in the midst of a career-best season for the 26-year-old point guard. Boston, as a team, is in a hurry broke several single-season league records for 3-point shooting.
There’s a lot to like about how the Celtics are playing right now, but they can always improve both on the court and in terms of building the roster.
The trade deadline is set for March. The Celtics are on the other side, though, which is part of the CBA that puts restrictions on high-spending teams.
Our Celtics leader Chris Forsberg recently fell down what does the second apron mean for the C’s as the trade deadline approaches:
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The Celtics can’t combine contracts in a trade, meaning they can’t combine contracts to get a more valuable player. If the Celtics carry, say, Jaden Springer’s $4 million contract, they can’t combine it with Queta’s $2 million contract to hunt down a $6 million player.
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The Celtics can’t sign any player who is already making more than a midlevel deal this season.
On the latest episode of NBC Sports Boston’s Celtics Talk podcastForsberg was joined by ESPN’s NBA front office director Bobby Marks.
🔊 Celtics Talk: Exploring Celtics roster options with ESPN’s Bobby Marks | Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube
What might the Celtics want to find if they make a move in the trade market or on the waivers or buyout market? Marks thinks wing depth and/or another frontcourt player will make sense.
“Listen, everybody wants depth of field, that’s always a big thing,” Marks said. “Hey, can we get a big wing off our bench? I think all the playoff teams are looking for it, and you can get a little more depth up front, kind of between small forward and power forward, something of that nature. That would be joy.
“I think the interesting thing with the apron rules, and not many people know this, is that you can trade for the smallest players and still pass the apron. That’s a little bit of a loophole where you can explore the market and you can see, I don’t know, a team that’s in it, whether it’s Utah or Detroit or Brooklyn, and maybe there’s someone there that, maybe instead of sending your pick with Jaden Springer, maybe go out and use that choice to get someone from give you some help there I think it will be interesting to see what happens.
“PJ Tucker is interesting. That’s something the Celtics are going to have to do their homework on, not from a business standpoint, just from a strategic standpoint, because I think the money— Your period is under the door. But it hasn’t worked all year. Are you happy?
One name to keep an eye on as the trade deadline approaches is Lonnie Walker IV, who the Celtics signed Show 10 deals in the summer but not for their Opening Night list. Walker is currently playing in Lithuania.
“You’re going to hear a lot about Lonnie Walker IV in the next five weeks, six weeks here because he has a buyout in his contract in Europe,” Marks explained. “I talked to his agent when I was driving up to Orlando and he was like, ‘You’re playing your best.’ For Europe, he is on a great streak as he plays over there.
“He’s in camp (the Celtics). (They) know him. He knows the system. He can come in, and without expectations that he has to play. But it’s a good insurance policy for a guy who can throw. in the playoffs because he’s already been there.”
The Celtics have signed Xavier Tillman Sr. and Jaden Springer at last year’s trade deadline. And with their own first-round pick and three second-round picks in the 2025 NBA Draft, the C’s could make a move or two before March.
Even in this episode:
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Bobby Marks on the Celtics’ season so far
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The biggest threat in the East?
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Has Brad Stevens made all the right moves?
