Celtics Eye Keon Ellis as Trade Deadline Approaches: A 3-and-D Fit for Boston's System
With the NBA trade deadline looming on February 5, the Boston Celtics are reportedly in the mix for Sacramento Kings guard Keon Ellis-a name that’s quickly gaining traction among contenders looking to bolster their backcourt depth and defensive versatility.
According to league sources, Boston is one of several teams expressing serious interest in Ellis, a 26-year-old guard who’s carved out a niche as a gritty, defensive-minded wing with a reliable three-point shot. For a Celtics team that values switchable defenders and floor spacing under head coach Joe Mazzulla, Ellis checks a lot of boxes.
But Boston isn’t alone in this pursuit. The Cleveland Cavaliers are said to be aggressive in their efforts to land Ellis, and the Los Angeles Lakers, Indiana Pacers, and San Antonio Spurs are also reportedly in the hunt. Sacramento, meanwhile, is actively exploring trade scenarios involving Ellis, with talks intensifying heading into the weekend.
The Kings are reportedly weighing a variety of trade constructions, including a potential three-team deal with the Cavaliers that could involve veteran guard Dennis Schröder heading to Cleveland. Other names like DeMar DeRozan, Malik Monk, and Cleveland’s Isaac Okoro and Sam Merrill have been floated in broader frameworks, as Sacramento looks to retool its roster around its core.
For the Celtics, Ellis represents a low-cost, high-upside addition who could slot seamlessly into their rotation. He brings the kind of defensive energy and off-ball shooting that aligns with Boston’s identity-especially in a playoff environment where depth and matchup flexibility become critical.
This season, Ellis has seen a reduced role compared to his breakout 2024-25 campaign, but he’s still shown flashes of the two-way impact that made him a rising name last year. Through 43 games, he’s averaging 5.6 points, 1.3 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.5 blocks in just under 18 minutes per game. His shooting splits-39.7% from the field and 36.8% from deep-don’t leap off the page, but they reflect a player who can space the floor and make timely defensive plays.
January offered a glimpse of what Ellis can bring when given opportunity: 14 points against Detroit, 10 versus Philadelphia, and a strong defensive showing against Boston in a recent matchup, despite the Kings falling short in that game.
It’s a bit of a step back statistically from last season, when Ellis played 80 games (28 starts) and posted career highs across the board-8.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game on an efficient 48.9% shooting from the field and a red-hot 43.3% from three. That kind of production, especially on a Kings team fighting for playoff position, helped solidify his role as a classic 3-and-D contributor.
Across his three-year career-all with Sacramento after going undrafted in 2022-Ellis has suited up in 195 games, averaging 6.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in roughly 19 minutes per contest. But his real value lies in what doesn’t always show up in the box score: on-ball defense, hustle plays, and the ability to guard multiple positions.
For a Celtics squad already loaded with top-tier talent, adding a player like Ellis wouldn’t be about changing the starting five-it’s about reinforcing the bench with a player who can step in and hold his own when the stakes are high. Whether Boston can outmaneuver other suitors remains to be seen, but one thing’s clear: Keon Ellis is firmly on the radar of teams with championship aspirations.