The NBA trade deadline always brings its fair share of buzz, and for fans of the Boston Celtics, it's a time of anticipation, speculation, and, sometimes, emotional farewells. While front-office moves are often evaluated through the lens of roster construction and playoff aspirations, there’s a very real human side that doesn’t always show up in the box score.
For Celtics wing Jordan Walsh, that side of the business hit home this week.
In the wake of the Celtics’ recent trades - which sent out Xavier Tillman Sr. and Anfernee Simons - Walsh opened up about what it’s been like to adjust to a locker room that suddenly feels a little emptier. The rookie has built strong bonds with several teammates this season, and seeing two of them shipped out ahead of the deadline was clearly tough.
“It’s tough,” Walsh said. “Me and (Tillman) were like this,” he added, holding up two fingers to show just how tight their relationship had become.
Walsh spoke candidly about what it felt like walking into the first game after the trade, instinctively looking for Tillman - someone he leaned on for energy, advice, or just a quick word before tip-off - and realizing he wasn’t there anymore.
“That first game back, I’m always looking for somebody to talk to, for inspiration points or whatever it may be,” Walsh said. “And he just wasn’t there. I was like, ‘Dang,’ it just feels different - everything feels different.”
It’s a moment of honesty that reminds us: NBA players aren’t just names on trade trackers or pieces in a front-office chess game. They’re teammates, friends, and in many cases, like family.
Walsh also mentioned how close he’d grown to other recently traded players, including Josh Minott and Chris Boucher. But it’s Simons - now with the Chicago Bulls - who’ll be back in town first, with Boston set to face Chicago on Wednesday night.
“Fortunately, I’ll be able to see Ant,” Walsh said. “I’ll have to - we’ll have to destroy him though. But it’ll be good to see him again, have him back in the Garden.”
That’s the competitor in Walsh coming through. The respect is there, the friendship still intact, but once the ball goes up, it’s all business.
Still, the void left behind is real. “Missing those guys, having them gone, definitely leaves a void kind of in the arena for sure,” he said.
For a Celtics team with championship aspirations, these are the kinds of emotional adjustments that come with the territory. Chemistry matters - not just on the court, but off it.
And as Boston integrates its new additions and moves forward, Walsh’s perspective is a reminder that the NBA isn’t just about talent and tactics. It’s also about trust, connection, and the relationships that help teams become more than the sum of their parts.