The Boston Celtics took a rather low-key approach at the 2025 NBA trade deadline, opting to make just one move. Instead of shaking things up with a blockbuster trade, the team focused on a financial decision—sending guard Jaden Springer to the Houston Rockets in exchange for a pick swap. While it might not be the headline-grabbing deal fans were hoping for, this move saved Boston a cool $15 million in luxury tax penalties.
That trade, while seemingly minor on the surface, has opened up an interesting opportunity for the Celtics. With Springer gone, Boston now finds itself with only 13 players on standard contracts. Per NBA rules, teams are required to have at least 14 players, meaning the Celtics will need to fill that spot in the coming weeks. They also have the option to add a 15th player before the postseason in April. This leaves them with a few potential routes: signing a free agent, dipping into the buyout market, or promoting a player from their G League affiliate, the Maine Celtics.
Team president Brad Stevens addressed the roster situation ahead of Boston’s Thursday night matchup against the Dallas Mavericks. He made it clear that the Celtics are moving swiftly to fill the 14th roster spot but will take a more measured approach when considering a 15th player.
"We have 13 guys right now," Stevens said. "We’ll probably do something with the 14th relatively soon, and then we’ll take our time with the 15th and really assess our health and needs and those types of things as we go on."
Boston fans might be wondering who could fill that vacancy. One option is to promote a two-way player from Maine. Names like Drew Peterson, JD Davison, and Anton Watson have been floating around as potential candidates. Stevens, however, remained tight-lipped about any specific player but did acknowledge the effort and development happening in the G League.
"I won’t get into any particular players. I think all of our guys have done a great job. It will be more based on the needs of the Celtics," Stevens added.
Of course, the Celtics aren’t limited to just their own developmental pool. They could also sign a free agent who isn't currently with an NBA team. Another intriguing possibility is targeting a player who agrees to a contract buyout with his current team. That’s where things get a bit tricky.
Due to Boston's position as a second-apron team under the NBA's new salary cap rules, they can only sign a buyout player who originally earned $12.8 million or less this season. That effectively takes them out of the running for the biggest names expected to hit the buyout market in the coming days and weeks.
Even with those limitations, Boston still has room to make an impactful addition. Stevens hinted at the specific type of player they might be targeting.
“I think the first thing that we’ll look to do is bring in a wing,” Stevens said.
This makes sense given Boston's current roster situation. Sam Hauser and Jaylen Brown have both been dealing with nagging injuries, making wing depth a crucial area to address. While the Celtics do have some young talent in Jordan Walsh and Baylor Scheierman, they may not be ready for a deep playoff run. Bringing in an experienced wing could provide valuable insurance as the team gears up for the postseason.
The reality is that Boston isn’t looking to make drastic changes. They already have a championship-caliber roster featuring stars like Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kristaps Porziņģis. Instead of a splashy acquisition, the Celtics are aiming for a subtle but meaningful move that enhances their depth.
Boston’s patience in filling out their roster is a testament to their confidence in what they already have. While some teams scrambled to make big trades at the deadline, the Celtics stuck to their game plan. And with a solid record and one of the best defenses in the league, they have every reason to feel good about their chances heading into the playoffs.
For now, Celtics fans will have to wait and see how the front office chooses to round out the roster. Whether they pull from the G League, explore the buyout market, or bring in an overlooked free agent, Boston’s next move could provide the extra depth needed to make a serious title run. One thing’s for sure—the Celtics aren’t done making adjustments just yet.
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