This offseason has been a reasonably chaotic one up to now. Between the Giannis Antetokounmpo commerce saga to the now exhausting Jaylen Brown commerce discourse, it appears like there isn’t room to speak about the remainder of the crew as a complete.
After watching the Celtics blow a 3-1 result in the Philadelphia 76ers and lose Recreation 7 at residence in TD Backyard, there was one evident level on the roster that Boston wanted to handle: the middle place. As soon as Joel Embiid got here again within the collection, it regarded the Celtics had no solutions to cease him. Between Neemias Queta always being in foul hassle, Nikola Vucevic going ice chilly on offense and giving nothing on protection, and Luka Garza making an attempt his finest in restricted minutes, Boston’s heart place was getting torched all collection lengthy and regarded like the most important challenge on the roster going into the offseason.
Nonetheless, misplaced within the discourse of discovering the subsequent Celtics huge man, a thought crossed my thoughts that appears like followers aren’t speaking about sufficient: Boston actually wants to handle the guard rotation, too. The shortage of huge names at heart and the truth that the Celtics are seemingly making an attempt to commerce Brown for a giant man makes it simple to overlook that Boston might additionally use an improve at level guard.
Because of a attainable Celtics-Nuggets commerce reported by The Ringer’s Invoice Simmons who stated there was smoke round a attainable deal that would ship Jaylen Brown and Sam Hauser to Denver in alternate for Jamal Murray and Cameron Johnson, right here we’re. Nonetheless, Brian Robb of MassLive reported that “Boston isn’t anticipated to have curiosity in Jamal Murray on account of his sizable contract.” Though a Murray commerce doesn’t appear possible, in my thoughts if the Celtics had been severe about buying and selling Brown, it could be for an elite guard.
Jamal Murray and Cameron Johnson could be a fantastic choices for the Celtics to amass if this Denver commerce is a legit concept. Murray is coming off of a tough postseason, however was a primary time All-Star and completed All-NBA third Group in 2026, averaging 25.4 factors and seven.1 assists per recreation on 48.3% taking pictures from the sphere and 43.5% from three. Johnson additionally had a profession yr taking pictures the basketball, averaging 12.2 factors on a profession excessive 48% from the sphere and 43% from three. Each of those guys would additionally reply the wants that Brad Stevens has talked about in regards to the guard place.
Stevens Addresses Guard Wants
Though the net discourse across the Celtics want on the guard place hasn’t been talked about sufficient, Stevens has addressed the necessity for assistance on the perimeter. In his press convention after the primary spherical of the NBA Draft, Stevens talked about what Boston was on the lookout for going into the offseason, saying: “dimension after which I wish to add possibly yet one more individual with some pace on the perimeter.”
Earlier than the second spherical of the draft, Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reported that Boston was probably serious about taking 6’4” guard Ryan Conwell out of Louisville at fortieth total, however the Miami Warmth would commerce as much as the thirty seventh decide to choose him earlier than the Celtics bought an opportunity.
Celtics Latest Guard Historical past
When the Celtics received the championship in 2024, what was one of many huge roster strikes they made within the offseason? It was primarily swapping out Marcus Sensible and Malcolm Brogdon on the guard place for Jrue Vacation. Vacation had an unbelievable 2024 season the place he averaged 12.5 factors, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists whereas taking pictures 48% from the sphere and a profession excessive 42.9% from three level vary. On prime of his offensive contributions, Vacation was an elite defender that would guard all 5 positions, culminating in an All-Defensive 2nd Group nod and sixth in Defensive Participant of the 12 months voting. He was additionally essential within the NBA Finals, turning into the Celtics third highest scorer behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, averaging 14.4 factors, and arguably successful Recreation 2 on his personal with a 26-point efficiency on 11-14 taking pictures.
The 2025 season season was a step again for Vacation and it led to him being buying and selling to the Portland Path Blazers for Anfernee Simons forward of the 2026 season. Though there wasn’t lots of expectations for him, Simons carried out very well with Boston as their sixth man behind Payton Pritchard and Derrick White. In 49 video games with the Celtics he averaged 14.2 factors on 44% taking pictures from the sphere and 39.5% taking pictures from three in solely 24.5 minutes per recreation.
The inconsistency points began to come up when the Celtics traded him to the Chicago Bulls in alternate for Nikola Vucevic on the 2026 commerce deadline. The Vucevic commerce in concept appeared to be an excellent one. Boston wanted extra huge man depth and each him and Simons had been on expiring contracts, so a flip was simple. Nonetheless, Vucevic didn’t actually work out nicely in Boston and it left the Celtics guard place a little bit bit in limbo.
Derrick White had an abysmal offensive season in 2026 the place averaged 16.5 factors on a profession worst 39.4% from the sphere and a second profession worst of 32.7% from three. Payton Pritchard, who was okay as a starter with the Celtics, transitioned again into the sixth man function after the commerce deadline and performed a few of his finest basketball of the season, ending with averages of 17.0 factors and 5.2 assists on 46.4% taking pictures from the sphere and 37.7percents from three.
Outdoors of these two, it felt just like the Celtics had a gap within the beginning lineup the place a second guard ought to have been within the second half of the season. They tried to fill it with Sam Hauser, Baylor Scheierman, and Jordan Walsh but it surely by no means felt proper. Within the playoffs, Boston noticed Pritchard and White battle to shoot all collection and their lack of manufacturing from the guard place led to the Celtics finally shedding in Recreation 7.
Who ought to the Celtics goal?
There’s lots of guard depth on the roster already however out of these guys it doesn’t really feel like there may be that degree of participant the Celtics want. In my thoughts it appears like they want a participant who will be constant second/third scoring possibility at occasions and a ball handler to provoke the offense if wanted on the guard place. Nonetheless, If I used to be to play Brad Stevens going into the offseason, who’re the choices on the market that may actually resolve the issue?
Murray like acknowledged beforehand could be an fascinating concept that may not be beloved if he was traded for Brown, however it could fill the function acknowledged beforehand. On the free company market proper now there aren’t a ton of nice choices. Might a reunion with Marcus Sensible or Anfernee Simons be within the playing cards? Not essentially the elite guard I had in thoughts. Is there an opportunity De’Aaron Fox coming off possibly the worst NBA Finals efficiency ever for the San Antonio Spurs is a bounce again possibility? Possibly we attempt to convey the gang again collectively once more and commerce for Jrue Vacation again from the Portland Path Blazers once more?
The opposite possibility outdoors of constructing a transfer is hoping that Derrick White’s taking pictures from final season was only a fluke and he will be that third possibility offensive hub for the Celtics once more, Payton Pritchard takes one other leap and turns into an All-Star degree participant, and possibly a man like Baylor Scheierman will get a much bigger function and turn out to be a constant offensive risk off the bench. In line with HoopHype’s Mike Scotto, Boston has curiosity within the Mavericks’ jitterbug PG, Brandon Williams.
It appears like with the restricted choices accessible the Celtics will financial institution on an in home answer, however with Stevens making it identified he’s wanting, it wouldn’t shock me if he added one other man on a shorter contract in free company. Though the middle place continues to be the most important want that on Boston’s roster that takes up many of the highlight, I simply hope the guard place doesn’t get uncared for this offseason as nicely.
