The Boston Celtics weren’t supposed to be here - not this quickly, not this convincingly. After losing their top three centers in the offseason, many expected them to take a step back, recalibrate, and gear up for a longer-term push.
Instead, they’ve surged into the heart of the Eastern Conference race, powered by the elite wing duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Now, with the trade deadline approaching, Boston has a chance to flip the script entirely - and Rudy Gobert might be the piece that completes the puzzle.
Let’s be clear: Neemias Queta has done his job admirably. He’s held the fort, played his role, and given Boston solid minutes.
But if the Celtics are serious about contending for a title this season - and make no mistake, they are - they need more than just solid. They need a defensive anchor who can elevate the group from good to great.
That’s where Gobert enters the picture.
The veteran big man is once again playing at a Defensive Player of the Year level - and that’s not just a nod to his past résumé. At 33, Gobert is still vacuuming rebounds (11.3 per game) and protecting the rim like few others in the league.
He’s also leading the NBA in field goal percentage, thriving as a low-usage, high-efficiency finisher around the basket. He’s not going to stretch the floor like Al Horford or Kristaps Porziņģis did during their championship run in 2024, but he brings a different kind of value - one that’s tailor-made for playoff basketball.
Boston has already kicked the tires on a few center options. They reportedly made a strong offer for Ivica Zubac, only to be turned away by the Clippers.
Daniel Gafford and Nic Claxton have come up in conversations. Onyeka Okongwu is another name floating around.
But what if those moves are too small? What if the Celtics, sitting on a real opportunity to strike, decide to swing big?
Here’s where the league-wide dominoes start to fall. With the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade saga heating up, the Minnesota Timberwolves have emerged as a potential suitor.
But they’re short on draft capital after the Gobert trade, and if they want to get serious about landing Giannis, they’ll need to move some of their current talent to bring in the picks Milwaukee would demand in return. That opens the door for a team like Boston to step in - not as a bystander, but as an opportunistic buyer.
The Celtics could take advantage of Minnesota’s urgency and bring Gobert to Boston at a discount. According to reports, the Timberwolves are actively exploring multi-team trade frameworks to make a Giannis deal work. That’s where Boston’s assets - players, picks, and flexibility - become valuable.
A potential deal could involve Sam Hauser and Anfernee Simons to make the money work, trimming $2.7 million off Boston’s tax bill in the process. Toss in a first-round pick and the highly valuable New Orleans second-rounder (projected to land early in the second round), and you’ve got a package that’s both competitive and manageable. It’s a move that doesn’t gut Boston’s core but significantly raises their ceiling.
Imagine a starting five of Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Rudy Gobert. That’s a lineup with elite two-way potential - size, switchability, rim protection, and shot-making.
Gobert’s presence would allow Boston’s perimeter defenders to get even more aggressive, knowing there’s a safety net behind them. Offensively, he stays in his lane, screens hard, rolls to the rim, and cleans up the glass.
That’s all the Celtics need.
This isn’t just about chasing a short-term upgrade. Gobert’s game ages well because it’s built on instincts, positioning, and discipline - not athleticism.
And with Boston’s stars entering their prime, the window is wide open. Adding a four-time Defensive Player of the Year who’s still playing at an elite level could be the move that tips the balance in the East.
The Celtics came into the season with a long-term mindset, but circumstances have changed. They’re not just ahead of schedule - they’re in the thick of it.
With the right move, they could be right back in the NBA Finals mix. Rudy Gobert might just be that move.