With eight days remaining until the NBA trade deadline, the Boston Celtics are running short on time to decide which direction they’ll go.
During the offseason, and shortly after acquiring guard Afernee
Simons from the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Jrue Holiday, the organization quickly explored its options. Boston spoke with the Brooklyn Nets and the Milwaukee Bucks before entering Opening Night with Simons still aboard. Those conversations, however, haven’t been put to rest officially with the team’s interest in a front-court upgrade, prompting a revisitation of a potential Simons trade — this time involving Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac, according to HoopHype’s Mike Scotto.
“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,” Scotto reported Wednesday.
Since moving on from the offseason departures of Kristaps Porziņģis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet, the Celtics have been experimental at the center position. Coach Joe Mazzulla has leaned on fifth-year veteran Neemias Queta to shoulder the weight of 43 starts in 44 appearances, while also giving Luka Garza, and most recently, rookie Amari Williams, a chance with meaningful minutes. Those names aren’t as household as Zubac’s, but there is room to improve on that front.
Boston, so far, has measured up as a middle-of-the-pack rebounding team this season. They rank 13th in total rebounds (44.8) per game, and 16th in defensive boards (32.3) among all teams in the league. That’s a notable drop-off from last season, in which the Celtics ranked eighth and seventh in those categories, respectively, even though it hasn’t been a glaring issue plaguing Boston’s climb up the standings — the Celtics, at 29-17, sit second in the Eastern Conference.
Zubac is the fourth-best rebounder in the league — behind Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert, and Donovan Clingan — averaging 10.9 per game with 14.6 points through 40 appearances with the Clippers. He’s on pace to finish the season averaging a double-double for the second time in his career, making him a significant name that’s repeatedly surfaced in trade rumors.
Considering the ongoing strides Boston has made without star Jayson Tatum, the case to buy rather than sell is as clear as day. Mazzulla’s coaching readjustments, Jaylen Brown’s leadership growth, and the team’s principles that have turned the Celtics into a well-oiled machine all speak for themselves. Instead of using Tatum’s absence as a reason to tank, Boston has used it — along with several other outlets — as motivation to reshape this season’s expectations.
The conversation about whether to invest or stand pat was significantly murkier months ago, before the season began. Tatum’s absence, coupled with the departures and unproven newcomers, made the Celtics an easy team to count out from the jump. It’s the first time Mazzulla has been tasked with relying on identity rather than star power, yet everything has worked out. Brown is the team’s lone All-Star representative, and despite the void Tatum’s ruptured right Achilles tendon left, Boston — like last season — is still a legitimate contender to represent the East in this year’s NBA Finals.
If the organization’s intention is to go all-in and make a deep run at the Finals, Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens remains on the clock in the meantime.
