December 17, 2025 — Despite playing without injured star Jayson Tatum and after losing several front-court contributors in the offseason, the Boston Celtics own the league’s 10th-best record through 26 games. That unexpected start has team president Brad Stevens weighing whether to pursue roster upgrades or focus on gathering future assets before February’s trade deadline.
“We will not put a ceiling on this group,” Stevens told reporters, according to The Athletic. “If it makes sense for us to look for things that can help us, we certainly will. But it all has to be within good deals, and it all has to be within the ultimate goal, which is the North Star of retooling so we’re in a position to compete for a championship.”
Boston sits roughly $12.1 million above the luxury-tax threshold, so any move that reduces payroll would ease the club’s financial burden. Still, the team has captured 15 of its past 23 games behind Jaylen Brown, whose 29.3 points per game rank sixth in the NBA, complicating the idea of pivoting toward the draft lottery.
Stevens pointed to the tight Eastern Conference standings — where the gap between third and ninth place is minimal — as a reason for patience. He declined to identify specific needs, but The Athletic’s Jay King speculated that boosting the frontcourt is the most logical target. Portland guard Anfernee Simons, earning $27.7 million on an expiring contract, was mentioned as one potential trade candidate.
Tatum’s recovery from the Achilles tear he suffered in May remains a major variable. Team officials chose not to apply for a disabled player exception, signaling optimism about his progress, but Stevens reiterated that no return date has been set.
“He’s not going to be back until he’s 110 percent healthy,” Stevens said. “There are strength thresholds he has to meet, then several weeks of progression — from scripted work against small groups all the way to full 5-on-5. It’s a long process, and he knows it.”
Boston will continue monitoring both the trade market and Tatum’s rehabilitation as the deadline approaches.
Source: HoopsRumors
