The Boston Celtics have spent the early part of the 2025–26 season navigating an unfamiliar challenge. With Jayson Tatum still sidelined, they are competitive enough to stay in the mix but not quite complete. It is no surprise, then, that they continue to be linked to center upgrades. The position has been a lingering question since their financially driven reset over the summer.
The latest idea comes from Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley, who proposes sending Anfernee Simons and a 2027 first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Nic Claxton.
On paper, Claxton checks a lot of boxes. He is young, athletic and productive. But a closer look raises real questions about whether this is the smartest or most impactful move Boston could make right now.
Why Nic Claxton Might Not Move the Needle for the Celtics
Claxton is a good player. He defends in space, rebounds well and brings a level of mobility that fits the modern NBA. On top of that, he has had a tremendous start to the season. The issue is not his talent. It is his impact on a Celtics team. For the price, he might not be the kind of addition who dramatically changes Boston’s ceiling the moment Tatum returns.
This roster is still built around Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. Their biggest long-term need is a center who meaningfully shifts matchups deep in the playoffs. Claxton helps, but he does not redefine their playoff identity in the way a true needle-moving big man would.
Despite the national noise around their center rotation, the Celtics have seen promising internal growth. Neemias Queta has made strides. Luka Garza continues to show he can contribute spot minutes. Josh Minott has been a shrewd pickup. Collectively, the group is functional and improving.
And that improvement is not by accident.
Joe Mazzulla’s Track Record Matters
Under Joe Mazzulla, Boston have consistently found ways to elevate their centers. The clearest example is Luke Kornet, who arrived as a fringe rotation player and developed into a genuinely useful piece.
Mazzulla simplifies roles. He builds structure around his bigs. He gives them responsibilities they can execute without overextending them. That matters. It means Boston do not necessarily need a splashy name to get reliable production. They have shown they can generate that internally.
Which is why the Claxton pitch feels more reactionary than strategic.
The Real Question: Is the Claxton Price Too High?
The bigger issue with this idea is the cost. Anfernee Simons, despite a slower start by his standards, remains a talented scorer who can play either guard spot, and his value is likely to rise as the season progresses. Moving him now, while his stock is still building, carries real risk.
Adding a first-round pick on top of that makes the equation even tougher to justify. For a player like Claxton, who would help but not transform the team, the price feels heavy. Boston’s flexibility matters, especially with Tatum returning and a window that could expand rather than shrink.
This early in the season, patience is an asset rather than a weakness.
Holding Steady May Be the Better Path for the Celtics
Once Tatum returns, the Celtics will reenter the conversation with the East’s top teams. The core is strong enough to compete. What they need most is continuity, health and time, not a midseason shakeup that costs a proven scorer and a future first-round pick.
Claxton is a good player, but he might not be the kind of acquisition that changes everything. And with Queta developing, Garza showing upside and Mazzulla consistently elevating bigs, Boston may already have the solutions they need.
If the deadline were today, the smartest move for the Celtics might be keeping their assets and letting the season play out.
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