The Boston Celtics are rolling through the season with one of the league’s most formidable starting fives, but there’s a clear weak spot lurking beneath the surface - frontcourt depth. Outside of Neemias Queta, who’s shown flashes but still has plenty to prove, Boston doesn’t have a reliable big man to lean on when the rotation tightens or injuries pile up.
And Luka Garza? He hasn’t done enough defensively to earn Joe Mazzulla’s trust, which has pushed him further down the depth chart.
That leaves the Celtics in a familiar spot: elite on the perimeter, thin in the paint. And with the trade market starting to thaw now that December 15 has passed - the date when many offseason signees become eligible to be moved - it might be time for Brad Stevens and the front office to start working the phones.
One name that’s starting to make the rounds as a potential low-risk target: Kevon Looney.
Now with the New Orleans Pelicans, Looney hasn’t exactly found his footing in the Big Easy. He’s played in just 12 games and has mostly been on the outside looking in.
But make no mistake - this is a seasoned vet with playoff pedigree and a résumé that includes two NBA titles with the Golden State Warriors. And that kind of experience doesn’t just vanish.
At 6-foot-9, Looney doesn’t solve Boston’s size issue in the traditional sense - he’s not a towering rim protector who’s going to swat shots into the third row. But what he does bring is a savvy, physical presence that could seriously stabilize the Celtics’ second unit. He’s a screen-setting machine, a relentless rebounder, and a guy who understands how to make the right reads on both ends of the floor.
Last season with Golden State, Looney averaged 4.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game while shooting over 51% from the field. Those aren’t eye-popping numbers, but they tell the story of a player who knows his role and executes it efficiently. He’s also a sneaky-good passer for a big man, averaging 1.6 assists per game over his career - a valuable trait in Boston’s ball-movement-heavy offense.
From a financial standpoint, Looney could also help the Celtics manage their cap sheet heading into the summer. His contract isn’t overly burdensome, and acquiring him could give Boston some added flexibility - something every contender is looking for as they balance win-now urgency with long-term planning.
Of course, prying Looney away from the Pelicans won’t be automatic. New Orleans just brought him in during the offseason, and while he hasn’t seen much run, they may still view him as a depth piece worth keeping around. But if Boston comes calling with the right offer - perhaps a second-round pick or a salary match that helps both sides - it’s at least worth the conversation.
The Celtics don’t need a star big man. They’ve already got their core.
What they need is someone who can give them 10-15 solid minutes a night, hold his own defensively, clean the glass, and keep the offense flowing when the starters sit. Kevon Looney checks a lot of those boxes.
And if Boston is serious about making a deep postseason run, shoring up the frontcourt now could pay dividends when the games matter most.