Stability has carried Boston this far. The next step may require disruption. Despite sitting near the top of the Eastern Conference without their franchise player, the Celtics are approaching a deadline where standing pat is no longer the safest option. The rotation has held together. The standings look fine. But the math underneath it is starting to change.

That shift became clearer as trade season intensified.

The Celtics are shopping Anfernee Simons’ $27.6 million expiring contract in search of an impact starting center, according to a Jan. 25 report from Evan Sidery. The timing of that move lines up with another reality Boston is preparing for: Jayson Tatum’s return from Achilles surgery is approaching, and the roster around him is not built to absorb that transition as currently constructed.

Boston’s interest is specific and focused. Per Sidery’s report, the Celtics have inquired about Ivica Zubac, Nic Claxton, Onyeka Okongwu, and Daniel Gafford. Each name points to the same priority. Boston is targeting a defensive anchor who can protect the rim, stabilize the paint, and reduce strain elsewhere in the lineup once Tatum is back on the floor.

That matters because the current frontcourt rotation has clear limits. Neemias Queta and Luka Garza have held their roles admirably, but neither profiles as a consistent rim deterrent or a matchup solution against elite postseason bigs. As long as Tatum remains out, those gaps are manageable. Once he returns to a minute restriction, they become structural.

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This is where the decision becomes drastic. Simons is not being moved because Boston wants to reset. He is being moved because his contract is the only realistic mechanism the Celtics have to reshape the roster without touching their core.

Why Simons Is the Lever, Not the Centerpiece

Simons’ value is contextual, not symbolic. His $27.6 million expiring deal creates immediate flexibility for a trade partner and solves a looming financial issue for Boston. With Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown’s supermax extensions taking hold, the Celtics are not positioned to re-sign Simons to a long-term deal in the summer of 2026. Keeping him without converting the contract now risks losing the slot entirely.

On the court, Simons has been a useful contributor. But his role overlaps with existing guard depth, while Boston’s most pressing need sits in the middle. That imbalance becomes sharper when viewed through Jaylen Brown’s workload.

Brown has carried the offense to keep Boston competitive at 28-17, but the Celtics cannot continue leaning on him at that level while also preparing to reintegrate Tatum. Asking Brown to absorb defensive attention, initiate offense, and anchor lineups indefinitely invites risk. The frontcourt upgrade is designed to relieve that pressure, not replace scoring.

This is not a luxury play. It is a timing play. Boston has identified its targets and made its contract available. What remains unresolved is whether one of the teams holding those centers is willing to engage before Feb. 5. Zubac and Claxton fit cleanly, but availability is not guaranteed. Okongwu and Gafford present alternatives with similar defensive value.

What is clear is the Celtics’ direction. They are choosing to act before Tatum returns rather than react after he does. By putting Simons’ expiring deal on the table now, Boston is prioritizing structural balance over continuity, even with a strong record in hand.

That choice carries risk. But with Tatum nearing his return and the postseason window narrowing, the Celtics have decided that waiting carries more.