More than halfway into the 2025-26 NBA season, the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers find themselves in very different positions than many expected back in October. If you had asked fans to predict which team would be sitting near the top of the Eastern Conference and which would be fighting to stay out of the Play-In, most would’ve bet on Cleveland leading the way.
But here we are in mid-January, and it’s Boston that’s holding down the No. 2 seed in the East, while Cleveland sits in sixth-just a few games above the Play-In line. The gap between the two teams is only 2.5 games in the standings, but that margin could grow significantly depending on what happens before the trade deadline.
And that brings us to the latest buzz around Memphis Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr.
According to recent reports, the Celtics are one of the teams showing interest in Jackson, despite the Grizzlies’ desire to keep him long-term. Boston’s interest makes sense-Jackson is a versatile defensive anchor who fits their switch-heavy scheme and brings legitimate floor-spacing as a big. Add him to a team that’s already in the Finals conversation, and suddenly the Celtics look even more dangerous.
For a team like Cleveland, that’s a scary prospect.
The Cavaliers are expected to stay the course with their current core-Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen-at least through this postseason. But if Boston were to somehow pull off a deal for Jackson, the balance of power in the East could shift even further in the Celtics’ favor.
Now, here’s the good news for Cleveland and the rest of the conference: a trade for JJJ doesn’t appear financially realistic for Boston-at least not without some serious maneuvering.
Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens has been operating with an eye on the long-term salary cap picture. Even if Boston were to package Anfernee Simons’ $27.7 million expiring contract with Sam Hauser’s $10 million deal to match Jackson’s salary, the real issue lies ahead. Jackson’s cap hit jumps from $35 million this season to $49 million next year, then climbs north of $50 million annually through the 2029 season.
That’s a massive number to add to a payroll that’s already committed to paying Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Derrick White a combined $145.9 million in 2026-27. Unless Stevens is planning a short-term rental or a summer flip of Jackson to another team, the math just doesn’t work.
So, while the Celtics’ interest in Jackson is real, the odds of them pulling off a deal remain slim. And for Cleveland, that means the threat of Boston adding another All-Star-caliber piece is probably just that-a threat, not a reality.
For now, the Cavaliers can turn their attention back to their own season. They’ve got work to do if they want to avoid the Play-In and prove they still belong in the East’s upper tier. But at least they won’t have to worry-yet-about Jaren Jackson Jr. suiting up in green and white.