Who Is The Next "Dream Big" Target At The Deadline Or Offseason?

[Phantom255x]

Even with Tatum returning 2026-2027 (or possibly even this upcoming March if his rehab doesn't suffer any setbacks) they will still need an actual starting center to get back into contender status. I don't even think it has to be a superstar center, just a solid guy who can play his role.

Queta, Tillman, Garza to me may be useful as rotational bigs but I don't see any of them being a starting center on a true contending team. Queta I guess could be a fringe starter at his ceiling if he reaches it but that's if he does. Boucher I like at PF and hope it works out and we can keep him around, but center is going to be a need.

Any ideas? Some names I can think of off the top of my head are Kessler and Vucevic.

A lot of these probably would require some iteration of trading Simons (salary), another young player and 1-2 future picks. Which I think makes sense. 

This team can get back to contention after this season for sure with PP-White-Brown-Tatum as the core and some or all of Hugo, Hauser, Minott, Queta/Tillman/Garza off the bench but an actual starting center is going to need to be filled.

[Moranis]

AJ Dybantsa

[A Future of Stevens]

AJ Dybantsa

It is going to be a good draft at the top next year. It would be best for the Celtics to be involved. The asset (even if we don't take a player) is going to be worth its weight in gold.

[slightly biased bias fan]

I think the plan was to get Porzingis back in the offseason, but who knows now. Porzingis might turn the Hawks into a contender and then sign a long term deal. Giannis looks like the Celtics only option to be a true contender again.

I am still of the opinion that the Celtics should have traded Tatum for Flagg on draft day. Hit the reset button, and try and get a top 5 pick in this years draft.

[Who]

Nic Claxton - does the dirty work on defense & on the boards. That was the team needs most next to the offensive talent we have on the perimeter.

Donovan Clingan - will be more expensive but talented young big man who might be gettable if Yang Hansen explodes as well as many people expect him to.

D Sabonis - Sacramento keeps making bad decision after bad decision. They will be rebuilding again soon. Sabonis could become available.

[Phantom255x]

Nic Claxton - does the dirty work on defense & on the boards. That was the team needs most next to the offensive talent we have on the perimeter.

Donovan Clingan - will be more expensive but talented young big man who might be gettable if Yang Hansen explodes as well as many people expect him to.

D Sabonis - Sacramento keeps making bad decision after bad decision. They will be rebuilding again soon. Sabonis could become available.

Nice ideas 

[Phantom255x]

AJ Dybantsa

It is going to be a good draft at the top next year. It would be best for the Celtics to be involved. The asset (even if we don't take a player) is going to be worth its weight in gold.

Yeah I agree. Either get a good draft pick to draft a C, or flip that pick in a trade for one next summer

[SparzWizard]

Nic Claxton - does the dirty work on defense & on the boards. That was the team needs most next to the offensive talent we have on the perimeter.

Donovan Clingan - will be more expensive but talented young big man who might be gettable if Yang Hansen explodes as well as many people expect him to.

D Sabonis - Sacramento keeps making bad decision after bad decision. They will be rebuilding again soon. Sabonis could become available.

I think Sabonis should be the next big name we try to go after.

Maybe also see if Jokic wants to join Boston...build some ranches in Boston to entice him. Teaming up with Tatum will be nice

[Phantom255x]

Nic Claxton - does the dirty work on defense & on the boards. That was the team needs most next to the offensive talent we have on the perimeter.

Donovan Clingan - will be more expensive but talented young big man who might be gettable if Yang Hansen explodes as well as many people expect him to.

D Sabonis - Sacramento keeps making bad decision after bad decision. They will be rebuilding again soon. Sabonis could become available.

I think Sabonis should be the next big name we try to go after.

Maybe also see if Jokic wants to join Boston...build some ranches in Boston to entice him. Teaming up with Tatum will be nice

I've always loved Sabonis 

[keevsnick]

The problem with a guy like Sabonis is he makes too much money. With both Jays on max deals they really can't fit another 44 million dollars salary.

[Who]

The problem with a guy like Sabonis is he makes too much money. With both Jays on max deals they really can't fit another 44 million dollars salary.

They would have to sacrifice D White

G: Pritchard
G: Hauser
F: Jaylen, Hugo
F: Tatum
C: D Sabonis

[boscel33]

Flagg!

[jambr380]

Simons for Vucevic is intriguing. I can't imagine we'd need to give up anything additional to get it done and we'd be able to use our KP TPE to take him in. That would then create a new, bigger $27.7M TPE for Simons and it would extend our window to use that TPE. Like Simons, Vucevic is also expiring, so you wouldn't be stuck with him beyond this upcoming season and you could re-sign him for a lot less if desired. He's definitely better than Garza.

I think Simons is more valuable than Vucevic at this point in their careers, but I can see the thinking in doing something like this from the front office's point of view

[Vermont Green]

As has been mentioned elsewhere, the most impactful loss to our "big" rotation is Tatum.  He did more of the dirty work than anyone.  Tatum led BOS in total rebounds and rebounds per game.  He was 17th in the entire league in total rebounds. For some of the other names mentioned, Sabonis was 2nd, Vucevic was 12th, so both right up there (this is based on total rebounds, not per game).

We have our core big 3 of White, Brown, Tatum; a guard, a guard/wing, and a forward (I don't care about this season, the dream big has to work for 2026-27 and beyond).  To that, you could add 1 guard (say Pritchard) and 1 big (TBD), or you could add 2 bigs:

Option 1:    Pritchard, White, Brown, Tatum, Dream Big
Option 1A:  White, Hauser, Brown, Tatum, Dream Big (if you like Hauser better)
Option 2:    White, Brown, Tatum, Forward-TBD, Dream Big

I explain all of this because it makes a difference in my mind as to what the "dream big" would be. Option 1 is most likely.  We have Pritchard in hand so it only requires 1 addition to the core.  But if we could trade Simons for a Pritchard level PF, maybe we are better off.  And then depending on the skills of this PF, it might change what is the best fit for the dream big.  Vucevic is potentially interesting, but I am not sure if he would be better in a 1 big or a 2 big line up.  He might be better in that PF role, and then add a C somehow.  Maybe trading the draft pick for 2026 plus a TPE.