With Jayson Tatum sidelined due to an Achilles tear, it would've been easy to write off the Boston Celtics this season. A team ducking the luxury tax, leaning on internal development, and maybe even eyeing a better draft position?
That’s usually the recipe for a rebuilding year. But Boston had other plans.
Led by Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard, the Celtics have rallied to second place in the Eastern Conference more than halfway through the season. And now, instead of looking like sellers, they’re shaping up to be buyers at the trade deadline - with a starting-caliber center sitting right at the top of their wish list.
“The trade deadline is less than two weeks away,” insider Shams Charania noted. “Going into the year, the question was whether they’d shed more salary.
Now? I could see Boston going the other way and maybe adding another big man.
They’ve been active in the market, looking for a starting center. They’re going to be aggressive.”
That aggression makes sense when you look at Boston’s current center rotation: Neemias Queta, Luka Garza, and rookie Amari Williams. While each brings something to the table, none fit the mold of a reliable, playoff-ready anchor in the middle. That’s why the Celtics are reportedly eyeing Brooklyn, where two intriguing options could be available: Nic Claxton and Day’Ron Sharpe.
Let’s start with Claxton. After an injury-plagued 2024-25 campaign, the 27-year-old has bounced back in a big way.
He’s averaging 12.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game on nearly 58% shooting. That stat line places him in rare company - only four other centers in the league are putting up at least 12 points, seven boards, and four assists on 50% shooting: Nikola Jokic, Alperen Sengun, Domantas Sabonis, and Evan Mobley.
Claxton’s versatility is what makes him such a compelling fit in Boston. He can switch on the perimeter, put the ball on the floor, and facilitate from the high post. That kind of modern skill set would elevate the Celtics’ frontcourt, especially in a playoff setting where defensive versatility and offensive playmaking from bigs are at a premium.
To make a deal work financially, Boston would likely use Anfernee Simons’ $27.6 million expiring contract. But salary matching is just one part of the equation - Brooklyn would also want draft capital in return. That’s where things get tricky.
The Celtics have already explored similar frameworks. They reportedly inquired about a deal with the Clippers involving Simons, a first-rounder, and a future pick swap for Ivica Zubac.
That didn’t gain traction, but it gives us a sense of what Boston is willing to put on the table. A comparable offer could be floated for Claxton, but there are a few hurdles.
First, Claxton isn’t a dominant defensive rebounder, which could be a concern for a Boston team that already struggles on the glass. Second, Simons has been playing some of his best basketball lately.
Over his last 16 games, he’s averaging 15.8 points while shooting 43.8% from deep on high volume. His floor spacing and shot creation have been vital next to Jaylen Brown with Tatum out - and with no clear timeline for Tatum’s return, that production isn’t something the Celtics can easily replace.
Still, looking ahead to next season, when Tatum is expected back, Boston will need a long-term solution at center. Simons’ expiring contract - acquired in the offseason when the team moved Jrue Holiday to Portland - gives them a valuable trade chip. Packaging that with a pick for Claxton could be a smart play if they believe he’s the right fit.
If the price for Claxton proves too steep, Boston might pivot to a more affordable option in Day’Ron Sharpe. The Celtics had eyes on Sharpe in the offseason, hoping to bring him in as a starting center, but were limited to offering a minimum contract. Sharpe instead re-signed with Brooklyn on a two-year, $12.5 million deal.
Sharpe is making just $6.25 million this season and continues to look like one of the league’s best backup centers. He’s averaging 7.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals in just over 18 minutes per game, while shooting over 60% from the field. That’s efficient production in a limited role - and it’s the kind of impact that could scale up with more minutes.
"Jaylen Brown has to be in the MVP conversation for what he's done with this Celtics team..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 23, 2026
Boston could be a team looking to make a move before the trade deadline" ~ @ShamsCharania #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/3Brhpavexf
Financially, Sharpe is a much easier fit, and the draft compensation required would likely be lower than what Claxton commands. But he’s not a throw-in.
Brooklyn values him highly, and with good reason. Even a late first-rounder - like Boston’s current pick at No. 24 - might be necessary to get a deal done.
The Celtics are in a fascinating spot. They’ve outperformed expectations without their franchise cornerstone, and now they’re staring down a trade deadline that could help solidify their status as a legitimate contender - not just this year, but for seasons to come. Whether it’s Claxton, Sharpe, or another name that emerges, Boston has the assets, the motivation, and the momentum to make a move.