Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are entering the 2025-26 season in survival mode. With Jayson Tatum sidelined for the year, Boston’s front office reshaped the roster — trading Jrue Holiday in exchange for Anfernee Simons and moving Kristaps Porziņģis to the Atlanta Hawks. The moves were forced by the need to get under the second apron, and with Tatum sidelined, the Celtics chose immediately to move on from aging stars and embrace a gap year while their franchise cornerstone recovers.
immediately, with Jaylen Brown and Derrick White leading the charge, Boston may need to explore the trade market to stay competitive. One name floated in a ClutchPoints article by Rohan Brahmbhatt was Pascal Siakam.
Celtics and the Case for Pascal Siakam
Getty imagesPascal Siakam backing down Jayson Tatum in Pacers–Celtics clash.
On paper, Siakam looks like a dream fit for Boston’s frontcourt. With Porziņģis gone, the team lacks a proven two-way big. A player who can anchor possessions, switch across multiple positions, and generate offense in stretches. Siakam checks all of those boxes.
His offensive game is versatile. He can post up, create from midrange, and facilitate as a secondary playmaker. On defense, his length and mobility fit perfectly into Boston’s switch-heavy system. Pairing Brown and Siakam would keep the Celtics relevant without Tatum. It would also give them one of the most versatile combinations in the league once Tatum returns.
For a franchise that defines itself by contention, the logic is easy to see. Adding an established star could stabilize Boston’s season. It could also raise their playoff ceiling in 2026.
Why a Siakam Trade Is Unlikely
The complication is that Siakam isn’t just available for the taking. He’s the centerpiece of an Indiana Pacers team that just reached the NBA Finals, losing in seven games. And like Boston, Indiana is awaiting the return of a superstar in Tyrese Haliburton, who tore his Achilles in Game 7.
That context matters. Siakam is too important for Indiana to move unless they’re blown away by an offer. Trading him would mean dismantling a Finals roster at the exact moment they should be waiting out Haliburton’s return and running it back. For Boston, the rate tag would likely be enormous — draft capital, young players, and rotation depth — and still might not be enough to tempt Indiana.
Celtics’ Trade Market Outlook
Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty ImagesAnfernee Simons, Boston Celtics
If the Celtics want to bridge the gap and stay in the championship picture without Jayson Tatum, they may be inclined to dangle Anfernee Simons and more — plus a multitude of future picks — for Siakam. More likely, though, this season is treated as a gap year while Tatum recovers.
That doesn’t mean Boston will stand pat. Simons remains a valuable trade chip, and the Celtics are expected to explore moving him before the deadline. Siakam would be the dream target. If somehow Boston pulled it off, it could create a three-headed wing monster of Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Pascal Siakam. That trio would set the Celtics up for a new era — a second iteration of the Tatum-Brown core designed to compete for championships well into the future.
Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins
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