Ranking the Celtics’ Trade Deadline Targets by Likelihood

The Celtics have been linked with a long list of potential trade targets, but how likely are they to land in Boston by the Feb. 5 trade deadline?

We’re officially in Trade Deadline week. In three days’ time, the deadline will pass, and the rosters will be locked in for the remainder of the season, with the exception of free agency and waivers.

Even when we thought this was going to be a gap year for our beloved Boston Celtics, it always felt like a foregone conclusion that some form of move would be made before the deadline slammed shut.

With the way the Celtics are playing, and their spot in the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference (who saw that coming during the summer?), you can make an argument for and against pushing forward with trying to improve the roster.

Neither side of that argument is wrong. Valid opinions exist on both spectrums.

That’s not going to stop me from postulating, though — no matter how on the fence I am. And my current take is that if the Celtics make a deadline move, it won’t be a splash — it’ll be a cost-controlled bet.

So, for today, I wanted to rank Boston’s rumored trade targets in terms of likelihood.

Before we do that, though, let’s take a quick look at the one name that is already off the board.

Keon Ellis | Traded to the Atlanta Hawks

Just last week, it emerged that Boston was among a list of teams interested in acquiring Keon Ellis.

“Sacramento, sources say, has only increased the intensity of its talks to ship out Ellis entering the weekend … with the Lakers, Pacers, Spurs and Celtics among several teams still hoping to factor into the race to acquire the defensive-minded guard,” Jake Fischer reported at the time.

No sooner had that report begun to grow legs than the Atlanta Hawks found a way of acquiring Ellis while also shipping out De’Andre Hunter. Solid move for the Hawks, and honestly, probably a better landing spot for the former Sacramento Kings guard. Had he wound up with the Celtics, he would have faced an uphill battle to earn minutes behind Derrick White, Payton Pritchard and Anfernee Simons.

I’m a big fan of the defense Ellis can provide. And I think he would have improved within the Celtics system, as so many others have and continue to do. But, overall, I don’t consider this to be a major missed opportunity.

If Anfernee Simons is shipped at the trade deadline, and another guard isn’t added, my outlook here will likely change.

And now we can dive in…

Ivica Zubac | Unlikely

Out of all the trade rumors this season, Ivica Zubac has been the one I’ve discussed the most. I really like what Zubac brings to the table and what his fit with Joe Mazzulla’s team could look like.

The issue is, the Clippers have already turned down an offer from the Celtics — and that was when their season was in the doldrums.

“If there was a notable center upgrade that could be attained while using Simons’ expiring contract, it could appeal to the Celtics,” HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto recently reported. “When the Clippers were struggling with a 6-21 record to begin the season, the Celtics inquired about an exploratory framework around Simons, a first-round pick, and a future first-round pick swap for Ivica Zubac and salary filler, which didn’t gain any traction, league sources told HoopsHype.”

If the Clippers weren’t willing to do business when their season was starting to circle the toilet bowl, I can’t imagine they would be any more motivated to do so now, when they’re sitting within touching distance (6 games out) of the sixth seed in the Western Conference.

Even if he was available, how much more should the Celtics be willing to give up? Wasn’t a first-round pick and a future pick swap enough? I can’t see Brad Stevens willy-nilly giving away any additional draft stock. Maybe a young wing could sweeten the pot?

Nah, unless something changes in the next 72 hours, I don’t see this one happening.

Maybe in the summer if the Clippers opt to rebuild, but even then, without Anfernee Simons to salary match and provide cap relief at the end of his contract, the Celtics are unlikely to have the best trade offer.

I’ve got this one firmly in the “unlikely” bucket.

Domantas Sabonis | Unlikely

Sabonis hasn’t been linked to the Celtics in trade rumors, but due to a perceived need for an upgrade at center, and the Kings’ reported willingness to tear down the roster, he’s been an inveitable talking point.

I like Sabonis. I think he would instantly improve the offense, especially if Mazzulla ran some offense through him via dribble hand-offs and worked with him in the short roll. Rebounding would also take a sharp upturn. The issue is, his defense doesn’t fill me with confidence, and his four-year $186 million contract makes me more afraid than Mike Wazowski was of human children.

Think about it, between Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Sabonis, the Celtics would have 115.3% of the cap tied up, with 13 more roster spots to fill out.

Give me a team with reliable depth and two highly-talented co-stars over a top-heavy “win-now” dice roll any day of the week.

I’ve also struggled to figure out exactly what the Kings are trying to do. Would they want draft picks? Picks and young guys? Ready-made talents? What are they trying to achieve, and should the Celtics be willing to facilitate that in a deal for someone who jams up their flexibility in the short and mid-term?

I’m not in on this move either, and with the potential package required, i’d say a move is unlikely…

Side note: The Kings did just flip Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis, so Anfernee Simons is probably looking mighty good right now…

Nic Claxton | Potentially

I could get behind this. Nic Claxton would give the Celtics a different dimension on both sides of the ball. He’s explosive, a solid rim protector and shot deterrent, and can play above the rim on offense.

“Boston is still seeing what is out there regarding Simons’ contract as it pertains to finding a key frontcourt upgrade,” Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reported earlier today. “Gafford, Missi, Day’Ron Sharpe, and Nic Claxton are all players the Celtics have been linked to, yet Simons would not necessarily need to be included for either Missi or Sharpe.”

Claxton is in the second year of a four-year $97 million deal. He’s earning $25.3 million this season. A straight swap of Simons for Claxton (probably with some second-rounders) could probably get a deal done.

Interestingly, Claxton is in the midst of his best season as a facilitator. One key area of Boston’s offense that hasn’t been replicated during the campaign so far is creating out of the short-roll. I would love to see Claxton come in, make some reads on the short roll, then provide the vertical spacing needed to put further pressure on a defense.

Brooklyn is still rebuilding. It feels like they keep resetting the clock. Claxton is 26. He would fit nicely with Tatum and Brown. And, the idea of double big linups with him operating as a roamer is interesting enough to have me curious about what Mazzulla could do when looking to go big for stretches of games.

If the Nets are willing to part with Claxton, and Boston legitimately covets an upgrade at center, I could envision a world in which Stevens brings Claxton to Boston. I’ll put this in the “maybe” pile.

Daniel Gafford | Potentially

There are two reasons why I think Gafford is a legitimate possibility.

1. He’s tied down on a reasonable deal until 2029. His three-year $54 million extension kicks in next season.

2. He’s a proven postseason player, having been part of the Dallas Mavericks roster that fell to the Boston Celtics in the 2024 NBA Finals.

Ok, so the second point is a stretch. Gafford has been part of two playoff runs in his career, totalling 27 games. Still, NBA Finals experience matters, especially for a team that will want to be back to that level in the near future.

Gafford is versatile enough to fit into Mazzulla’s system. He will defend, attack the glass and give the Celtics the lob threat they need to space the floor vertically. However, I’m not sure Dallas would part with Gafford mid-season, especially where they’re on the cusp of cracking the play-in tournament spots.

But, if the Celtics dangled some younger guys who could grow within Cooper Flagg’s orbit, along with some draft capital to keep the rebuild moving forward, the front office might be interested. Who knows?

Stevens has previously spoken about how much he favors continuity. Gafford’s long-term contract would fit the bill. He’s also young enough that Boston would be getting him for his prime years.

I can see the potential vision there. But, due to Dallas’ weirdness in the trade market (this is the team that traded Luka Doncic last year) I can’t help but hedge my bets here. He goes in the “maybe” pile.

Yves Missi | Yup, this feels like a Brad Stevens move

Missi feels like a Celtics-type pick-up. A young center with legitimate upside and enough games under his belt to prove that he’s a prospect worth developing. Bringing in Missi wouldn’t necessarily dethrone Queta as the starting five.

He would, however, give Boston someone to build around for the long-term while also improving the rebounding while developing into a defensive anchor. Missi isn’t a win-now type of addition — Gafford and Claxton are arguably better suited there.

However, if the goal is to have three centers that can be interchangeable, low-cost, high-impact and easy enough to retain for the foreseeable future, Missi checks every box.

He’s reportedly unhappy with the New Orleans Pelicans — outside of the food, and the vampires, who wouldn’t be? — and is incredibly attainable as far as potential trade packages go.

Adding Missi would be rounding out a rotation rather than replacing what’s already working. In time, I’d expect him to become the starter, but for now, I think he would give you some solid minutes and spark some legitimate debate over how that big man rotation should look to start next season.

Stevens began cutting costs this summer to retool the roster with the future in mind. For that reason, I have Missi in the “I kind of expect it” pile.

Day’Ron Sharpe | Yup, this feels like a Brad Stevens move

The advanced analytics darling. Does that sound familiar?

Sharpe is another young front-court talent who would improve the rotation, rather than step in and command a starting role. He can play both the four and the five, is a monster on the glass, is a versatile defender that can give Boston a switch-everything look and can get to work in and around the restricted area.

At 24, he’s a few years older than Missi, but still young enough that he could be considered a project with upside.

Sharpe’s ability to switch is a key factor here — at least in my opinion. Both Queta and Luka Garza are drop bigs. Sure, they can hedge or show, but their value comes when falling back to contain drives and contest shots.

Sharpe brings a new dimension off the bench while still being a high-level screener, scorer and decision-maker on the roll. Like Missi, i’d assume he wouldn’t break the bank in a trade, and could be a long-term piece to Stevens’ puzzle.

I do wonder how willing the Nets would be to part with Sharpe, though. He’s young enough to grow with the current crop of talent and could emerge as a key piece. However, if Brooklyn is prioritizing draft picks, some second-rounders, along with a young wing, could be enticing enough to at least open a legitimate line of communication.

I could see this move happening, too…Under the right circumstances, of course.

My preferred target?

Right now, I’m leaning toward Missi.

Queta has earned the right to see out the season as the starting big. If he can win the same role next season, with Missi and Garza both pushing for minutes, then so be it. But long-term, I think Missi has all the tools to be an impactful, low-cost big who can give you solid minutes on both sides of the floor.

Adding Missi isn’t going to cost you Simons, so you still have the chance to retain him in the summer, while also rounding out the center rotation. There’s depth, long-term upside, and you keep a core sparkplug.

If Missi doesn’t pan out, you haven’t lost much. If he does — and bigs have been a success story in recent seasons — then you get another cost-controlled center for cheap, while maintaining flexibility and all of your best impact players.

If Stevens does make a move at the deadline, it will tell us a lot about his vision for rounding out the roster around Tatum and Brown. I can’t wait to start diving into that with you all.