The Boston Celtics were never expected to bottom out this season, even with Jayson Tatum sidelined by a ruptured Achilles. But sitting near the top of the Eastern Conference standings? That’s a surprise-especially after an offseason that saw them move on from key pieces of their 2024 championship roster, including Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis.
And yet, here they are-firmly in the mix, playing disciplined, modern basketball under Joe Mazzulla, and getting the absolute best out of Jaylen Brown, who’s taken a leap in Tatum’s absence. Brown’s putting up nearly 30 a night on strong efficiency, and his playmaking has noticeably sharpened.
The jokes about his left hand? Those have gone quiet.
Still, even with Brown ascending and the team overachieving, Boston’s not fooling itself. If the goal is another deep playoff run-or another banner-they’ll need more.
The Celtics know it. The league knows it.
And they’ve already started making calls.
One of those calls reportedly went to the Clippers, as Boston tried to pry Ivica Zubac loose for a package centered around Anfernee Simons, a first-rounder, and a pick swap. L.A. declined. That tells you two things: first, Boston is actively hunting for frontcourt help; second, they’re willing to pay a decent price to get it.
It makes sense. With Porziņģis and Al Horford both gone, the Celtics’ big-man rotation is thin. Neemias Queta and company have held the line admirably, but if Boston wants to recapture the two-way balance that powered their 2024 title, they’ll need a big who can stretch the floor and protect the rim-someone in the Porziņģis mold, but healthier and more mobile.
Enter Jaren Jackson Jr.
If the Celtics are dreaming big, Jackson is the kind of player who fits that vision. The Memphis Grizzlies, meanwhile, are trending in the opposite direction.
Their late-season collapse in 2024 has bled into this year, and they’ve already started selling, moving Desmond Bane for a massive return. All signs point to a full teardown-and that includes the looming possibility of a Ja Morant trade.
Morant, once the face of the franchise, is no longer producing at an All-Star level. His efficiency has cratered-he’s one of the least efficient volume scorers in the league-and he hasn’t played enough games to officially qualify.
But if he had, his 52.1 true shooting percentage would rank near the bottom among high-usage players. Add in the off-court issues and a series of injuries that appear to have sapped some of his explosiveness, and it’s not hard to see why the trade market is lukewarm at best.
With Memphis clearly pivoting, the question becomes: what’s the long-term plan for Jackson? He’s under contract for roughly $51 million per year over the next four seasons.
That’s a hefty price tag for a player who, while immensely talented, isn’t a primary offensive engine. He’s an elite role player-one of the best in the league at what he does-but not someone you build an offense around.
That’s exactly why he makes so much sense in Boston.
Jackson’s strengths-switchable defense, rim protection, and floor-spacing-are tailor-made for the Celtics’ system. He doesn’t need the ball to be effective, but he’s more than just a catch-and-shoot guy.
He can attack closeouts, and that soft lefty hook shot of his? It’s become a go-to move that defenses still haven’t figured out how to stop.
With the attention Tatum and Brown draw, Jackson would have room to operate-and he knows how to take advantage of it.
Defensively, he might even be an upgrade over Porziņģis. Jackson’s a better shot-blocker and a more agile perimeter defender than Horford was in his later years. He can anchor a defense or switch out onto wings, and that versatility would give Mazzulla even more options in high-leverage moments.
The one knock? Rebounding.
Jackson’s never been a dominant presence on the glass, and asking him to play the five full-time might stretch his game a bit too far. But Boston’s roster is built to survive that.
Tatum, Brown, and Derrick White are all strong rebounders for their positions. Even Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard bring solid fundamentals on the boards.
The Celtics don’t need Jackson to be Dennis Rodman-they just need him to hold his own.
And if they can pair him with a more traditional rebounder in certain lineups, the fit becomes even cleaner.
Of course, the big question is cost. Jackson’s contract is steep, and in today’s CBA landscape, teams are thinking twice before paying top dollar for players who aren’t primary stars.
That said, Boston’s in a window. Tatum, Brown, and White are the core.
They’re not going anywhere. But if the Celtics want to maximize that trio, adding someone like Jackson could be the move that pushes them back into title-favorite territory.
Anfernee Simons would likely be the centerpiece of any deal, and Boston would have to be willing to part with multiple first-round picks-probably two, maybe three-to make it happen. That’s a steep price, but one that might be worth it if Jackson is the missing piece.
The Celtics don’t need to overhaul the roster. They just need one more high-impact piece to complement their stars and restore the two-way identity that made them champions. Jaren Jackson Jr. might be that guy-and if he is, Boston should be ready to strike.