Celtics Navigate Trade Deadline with Eye on Depth, Flexibility, and a Playoff Push
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) February 5, 2026
BOSTON - The Boston Celtics didn’t make a splash at the trade deadline - no blockbuster deals, no star-studded arrivals. But don’t mistake quiet for complacent. What the Celtics did was calculated, strategic, and very much in line with a team that’s not just thinking about today, but preparing for the grind of spring basketball.
Let’s start with the financial side. Boston made a series of moves that helped them duck under the luxury tax - a significant pivot considering how far over the line they were this past summer.
The Celtics offloaded several contracts, including Josh Minott, Chris Boucher, and Xavier Tillman Sr., all of whom were more depth pieces than core contributors. The biggest name moved?
Guard Anfernee Simons, who was sent to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for veteran big man Nikola Vucevic.
Now, on paper, that deal saved the Celtics around $6 million. But according to President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens, this wasn’t just about trimming the books. It was about addressing a need - size.
“The directive of this trade deadline was let's see if we can, again, find some size that we could give ourselves a little bit more depth there,” Stevens said Friday morning at the Auerbach Center. “And make sure that we are more prepared for some of the physicality that's coming down the road if we're able to ultimately be in playoffs.”
That’s a key point. The Celtics weren’t selling - they were reshaping.
Vucevic brings a different kind of presence in the paint, and with the Eastern Conference loaded with physical frontcourts, adding a veteran big makes a lot of sense. It’s about playoff readiness, not just regular-season wins.
Still, any time a team trims salary, especially in a city like Boston, fans start asking questions. After all, New England sports fans have seen this movie before - and they’re not shy about voicing frustration when ownership appears to prioritize the bottom line over banners.
Brad Stevens on the Celtics’ spending, regardless of the tax:
— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) February 6, 2026
“But, next year, if there's something that we look at and we say, we got to take advantage of it right now, then we're going to try to take advantage of it.”
“Bill (Chisholm) has been really clear with that.” pic.twitter.com/PBHx9ObxLe
So when Bill Chisholm took over as Celtics owner in 2025, there were understandable concerns that he might follow a more conservative financial path. But Stevens pushed back on that notion, making it clear that the team isn’t operating under a mandate to avoid spending - just to spend smart.
“If there's something that we look at and we say, ‘We got to take advantage of it right now,’ then we're going to try to take advantage of it,” Stevens said. “Bill has been really clear with that.”
That’s a notable stance, especially considering the Celtics are already in the repeater tax, where penalties get steeper the longer you stay above the line. Stevens made it clear: there’s no directive to stay under the tax next season. That opens the door to potential free agency moves this summer, especially if Boston sees an opportunity to add support around Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown - a duo already commanding over $100 million annually.
In the short term, Boston’s financial maneuvering gives them flexibility to be active on the buyout market. By shedding enough salary to escape the second tax apron, the Celtics have opened up a lane to add veteran help without the same roster-building restrictions they faced before the deadline.
Stevens even hinted that some of the team’s two-way players could be in line for standard contracts - a sign that the Celtics may look inward as much as outward to round out the roster.
One area Stevens specifically highlighted? Ball-handling. With Simons gone, the Celtics are looking to add another creator to the mix.
“We'll ultimately fill the roster spot with at least one more ball handler,” Stevens noted. “And then see how the rest of those needs play themselves out.”
The Celtics are in a strong spot heading into the All-Star break. They’ve won four straight, sit at 33-18, and currently hold the third seed in the Eastern Conference - just 4.5 games behind the surprising first-place Detroit Pistons. There’s still plenty of basketball left, but the mission is clear: build momentum, stay healthy, and be ready for the physicality of playoff basketball.
Brad Stevens on the Celtics’ open roster spots and their great two-way players:
— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) February 6, 2026
“We all think Ron (Harper Jr.) is one of the best players in the G League.”
“We’ll ultimately fill the spot with at least one more ball handler.” pic.twitter.com/xPepryvbWU
Next up: a Friday night showdown with the Miami Heat at TD Garden. It’s another chance for Boston to keep stacking wins - and for the retooled roster to show that this team isn’t just trying to save money. They’re trying to win.