The Boston Celtics are making noise in the East-and they’re doing it without their franchise cornerstone, Jayson Tatum. At 25-15, they’ve surged to second place in the conference, thanks in large part to Jaylen Brown stepping up with All-NBA-level play. It’s been a reminder of just how deep and dangerous this team can be when it’s clicking, and with Tatum expected to return from an Achilles injury, the Celtics are starting to look like a legitimate title threat once again.
But while Boston’s arrow is pointing up, things are looking a bit murkier in Miami.
The Heat just dropped a tough one to the Celtics, blowing a 19-point lead in a 119-114 loss that dropped them to 21-20 on the season. That’s just one game above .500, and the cracks are starting to show. Bam Adebayo hasn’t looked like himself, and nearly a year removed from parting ways with Jimmy Butler, Miami still hasn’t found a clear path back to star-level contention.
Enter a bold three-team trade proposal that could shake up the East in a major way.
The framework, floated in recent NBA trade chatter, involves the Celtics, Heat, and Wizards in a deal that would send Bam Adebayo to Boston and reshape the Heat’s roster and future flexibility. Here's how the deal breaks down:
Celtics receive:
- Bam Adebayo
- Justin Champagnie
Heat receive:
- Anfernee Simons
- Hugo González
- Boston's 2026 first-round pick
- Boston's 2030 first-round pick (swap)
- Boston's 2031 first-round pick
- 2031 second-round pick (less favorable from Boston or Cleveland; via Celtics)
Wizards receive:
- Sam Hauser
- Brooklyn's 2026 second-round pick (top-55 protected; via Miami)
- Boston's 2032 second-round pick
Let’s unpack this.
From Boston’s perspective, the idea of adding Adebayo is tantalizing. He’s a three-time All-Star, one of the league’s premier defensive anchors, and his ability to switch across positions and space the floor fits beautifully with the way the Celtics like to play.
Plug him into a frontcourt alongside a healthy Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard, and you’ve got a lineup that can score, defend, and switch everything. That’s a nightmare for opposing teams-especially in a playoff setting.
Yes, Adebayo’s $39 million cap hit is hefty. But Boston’s front office has shown it’s willing to pay for contention. And if this move pushes them from contender to favorite, that price tag starts to look a lot more palatable.
For Miami, the motivation is different-but no less significant. Moving Adebayo would clear nearly $47 million off the books, giving Pat Riley and the front office some serious flexibility. It would also mark a pivot toward a younger core, potentially building around 21-year-old big man Kel’el Ware.
In return, the Heat would get Anfernee Simons, a dynamic scorer who just torched them for 39 points off the bench. He’s on an expiring deal, which gives Miami flexibility moving forward. Hugo González brings defensive upside and a developing offensive game-exactly the kind of project Miami’s player development staff tends to thrive with.
The draft capital is also nothing to sneeze at. Three first-round picks (including a swap) and a second-rounder give the Heat ammunition to either restock through the draft or re-enter the trade market down the line with assets in hand.
As for Washington, the Wizards aren’t the headline here, but they walk away with a few pieces that could help in their rebuild. Sam Hauser is a capable shooter, and the two second-round picks-while not immediate game-changers-add to their growing war chest of future assets.
Now, let’s be clear: a move like this would be seismic. Miami trading Adebayo would signal a willingness to reset, at least in the short term.
That’s not something we’ve seen from the Heat often, especially under Riley’s watch. But if they’re serious about reshaping the roster and building something sustainable, this kind of deal could be a bold first step.
And for Boston? This would be a statement. A declaration that they’re not just trying to contend-they’re going all in.
Adebayo in green would be one of the most intriguing fits in the league. And if Tatum comes back healthy, the Celtics could be staring down a postseason run with one of the most complete lineups in basketball.
The East is already crowded at the top. But if this deal happens, Boston might just separate from the pack.