Beside the shortage of anybody who may cease Joel Embiid, one of many Boston Celtics’ most evident flaws in its first-round exit from the 2026 playoffs was its lack of an skilled, steady-handed veteran to proper the ship when seas received uneven.
Throughout the Celtics’ 2024 championship run, one of many group’s greatest strengths was the reliability and composure of its two gamers over the age of 30: Al Horford and Jrue Vacation.
Horford, who was 38 by the Finals, stepped up when Kristaps Porzingis went down and began 15 of 19 playoff video games. His effectivity dropped from the common season, however Massive Al nonetheless put up 9.2 factors, 7 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.6 shares over 30.3 minutes per recreation on 47.8% discipline aim taking pictures and 36.8% three-point taking pictures. All whereas anchoring Boston’s protection although his lateral quickness had noticeably declined.
Past the averages, Horford offered a chilled locker room presence and stepped up in among the run’s greatest moments. That features placing up a basic efficiency (22 factors, 15 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal and three blocks) within the closing recreation of the Celtics’ second-round sequence towards the Cavaliers and exploding in Sport 3 of the Japanese Convention Finals towards the Pacers for 23 factors on a career-high 7 three-point makes.
Jrue Vacation, who was 33, was arguably Boston’s third most impactful participant in the course of the run. He averaged 13.2 factors, 6.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.7 shares per recreation whereas taking pictures 50.3% from the ground and 40.2% from three-point vary.
Regardless of sharing the ground with the Jays, there was a professional argument that Jrue deserved the ECF MVP award. He averaged 18.5 factors per recreation whereas feasting on open photographs created by the Celtics’ spacing, creating high quality seems to be for himself, and taking part in elite, well timed protection that led to a game-sealing steal in Sport 3.
Boston has struggled in some excessive depth moments over the Jays period, however the regular palms of Horford and Vacation introduced a stage of poise and dependability that took the 2023-24 group excessive.
The Celtics’ present roster merely lacks these tertiary veteran items. Nikola Vucevic, 35, was a bust on the courtroom for Boston and it doesn’t appear like he’ll return subsequent yr. Derrick White, 31, contributes on many ranges, but it surely’s arduous to name him steady-handed when his shot has change into so unreliable.
So, who may Boston goal to fill such a task? Whereas there is probably not many — or any — savvy, two-way veterans on the extent of Horford or Vacation, there are a couple of vets the Celtics can realistically pursue this offseason who may contribute to a different deep playoff run.
The considered buying Wiggins, 31, could depart a nasty style within the mouths of Celtics followers. He performed a vital function towards Boston within the 2022 Finals for the Golden State Warriors, ending a magical run that eclipses even the 2024 championship run for some followers.
However, Wiggins has continued to mature right into a stable veteran who would instantly slot in as a starter on the Celtics instead of Sam Hauser, who has constantly struggled within the playoffs for Boston as defenses dial in and give attention to taking away his lone offensive power: his three-point taking pictures.
Wiggins has additionally struggled to match his common season three-point taking pictures numbers over his playoff profession, however his offensive versatility and defensive chops permit him to influence the sport in different methods. This season for the Miami Warmth, Wiggins averaged 15.4 factors, 4.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and a pair of.1 shares per recreation on 47.5% taking pictures from the sphere and 41.4% taking pictures from three-point vary (and a whopping 48.2% from the nook).
Regardless of starting his profession with expectations of superstardom, the stringy Canadian has settled into extra of a supporting function since becoming a member of the Warriors in the course of the 2019-20 season. His 19.7% utilization price in 2025-26 was the bottom of his profession and, whereas he nonetheless creates greater than half of his personal photographs throughout the arc, 94.2% of his three-point makes had been assisted. Between his elite effectivity on catch-and-shoot alternatives, means to drive to the rim (6.8 drives per recreation) and low utilization demand, he’d simply match into Mazzulla’s offensive system with out stepping on any toes.
“Two-Manner Wigs,” as his Warriors teammates known as him, would additionally present a stable defensive presence between the Jays on the perimeter. Whereas Wiggins has but to duplicate the 109 defensive ranking he put up in 2021-22, he’s a powerful athlete with size and spectacular lateral quickness. He’s no OG Anunoby, however his addition would undoubtedly strengthen Boston’s perimeter protection.
Whereas it is probably not possible, it’s doable for the Celtics to amass Wiggins this summer time. He has a $30,169,644 participant choice he may decline in an effort to search a brand new deal earlier than he turns 32. Boston solely has a $15 million full mid-level exception to spend on free brokers, however it could additionally pursue Wiggins by way of sign-and-trade with the Warmth. That might permit his wage to be absorbed into the Celtics’ $27.7 million traded participant exception created by the Anfernee Simons commerce.
Norman Powell, one other member of the 2025-26 Warmth, simply put up what could also be his greatest season but — and first All-Star look — on the ripe age of 33.
If the Celtics determine to commerce Derrick White and elevate Payton Pritchard to a beginning function, the group might be in want of one other bench scorer to assist carry the offensive load when one or each of the Jays take a breather. That may be a function Powell, a top-4 Sixth Man of the Yr candidate in 2022-23 and 2023-24, can be greater than outfitted to excel in.
Over the 2025-26 common season, Powell averaged 21.7 factors, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals per recreation on 47% taking pictures from the sphere and 38% from three-point vary regardless of taking up the biggest offensive function of his profession. He had a shaky jumper when he entered the league, however has change into an elite shooter within the latter half of his 10-year profession: Powell hasn’t shot under 38% on three pointers since 2017-18 (his third yr within the league).
This season, Powell began 52 of 58 video games performed for the Warmth and have become one of many group’s offensive lynchpins. His 27.2% utilization price was the best mark amongst all Miami’s gamers with at the least 10 video games performed. As a part of Erik Spoelstra’s newest offensive system, Powell discovered to create off-the-dribble alternatives from the highest of the important thing and feast on one-on-one matchups — a helpful trait for a sixth man.
Whereas he can lead an offense in want, he may slot in as a tertiary scorer alongside the Jays. Throughout his time with the Los Angeles Clippers, Powell operated as an elite off-ball scorer, typically operating round pindown and flare screens for open seems to be. Even in Miami, he was assisted on the overwhelming majority of his buckets (58.1% of his made discipline objectives and 85.9% of his three pointers).
The skilled scorer wouldn’t present the identical defensive influence as Wiggins, however his adaptive offense would absolutely profit the Celtics’ assault, which might stutter when photographs aren’t falling. He could also be simpler to amass than his teammate, too. Powell’s present contract presently expires this offseason, so Boston may signal him to the total mid-level exception — which is probably not too little for a 33-year-old coming off a $20,482,758 annual wage — or pursue him by way of sign-and-trade.
That is extra of a pie-in-the-sky thought since Caruso, 32, is coming into the second season of a four-year deal and has expressed a want to remain in Oklahoma Metropolis. Moreover, the Thunder’s entrance workplace reportedly feels the identical manner, in line with Tim MacMahon of ESPN. Since it might take a commerce for the Celtics to amass Caruso, which will take such a commerce off the desk, or at the least make it prohibitively costly for Boston.
Regardless, it’s not an impossibility. Caruso’s age is an outlier on OKC, which is on observe to change into a second apron group subsequent season. As Celtics followers know, the second apron brings with it hefty restrictions and forces any group in it to make arduous choices. If it wasn’t for the second apron, Horford and Vacation (and Porzingis and Luke Kornet) might need nonetheless been taking part in for Boston this yr. So, if the Thunder make the robust choice to half methods with Caruso in an effort to pay the youth, the Celtics ought to soar on the alternative so as to add the veteran.
Caruso has received two rings, one with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020 and one with OKC in 2025, and was instrumental within the success of each groups. He is among the greatest defensive guards within the league, who is usually tasked with slowing down the opponent’s best offensive weapon utilizing his 6’5” body, tireless motor and distinctive basketball IQ. Caruso’s first rate measurement and spectacular power make him one of the versatile defensive guards within the league. That versatility impressed the Thunder to cost him with guarding Victor Wembanyama, who stands a couple of foot taller than Caruso, early on on this season’s Western Convention Finals (admittedly to combined, if not poor, outcomes).
Caruso isn’t solely an elite defender, although. He’s a confirmed playoff riser who’s often at his greatest when the lights are brightest. In 38 playoff video games over the previous two seasons in OKC, Caruso averaged 9.9 factors, 2.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and a pair of.2 shares per recreation whereas taking pictures 46.2% from the sphere and 42.7% from three-point vary. Whereas he has not been used as a major scorer, he’s additionally able to exploding on offense — confirmed by a 31-point efficiency in Sport 1 of the WCF this yr.
As he has for the younger and gifted Thunder, Caruso would offer the Celtics with as steady-handed a presence on the courtroom and within the locker room as anybody may ask for.
