The Boston Celtics are better than the Eastern Conference expected so far.
Without Jayson Tatum, the Celtics have been off to a 15-9 start to the season. They are third in the conference, trailing the New York Knicks and the Detroit Pistons.
Many considered the 2025-2026 NBA season to be a gap year for the Celtics. Tatum is out for at least most of the season as he recovers from an Achilles injury.
Meanwhile, the team needed to make cost-cutting moves, dealing away Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, two key members of the Celtics’ most recent championship squad.
The idea was that the Celtics could find themselves struggling to miss the playoffs this season. So, they wouldn’t make any win-now moves. Instead, they are exceeding expectations, which sort of shifts the mock trade landscape when it comes to the Celtics.
Should the Celtics Eye a Notable Prospect?
When it comes to bigs on the trade block, the two most notable prospects are Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Davis.
It would be shocking to see the Celtics get in on those markets. One name that also stands out among lower-tier players is Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford.
One trade idea from the Celtics-centric site Hardwood Houdini suggests a potential framework to land Gafford in Boston ahead of the eventual Jayson Tatum return.
In a three-team hypothetical deal, the Celtics would acquire Gafford, along with Haywood Highsmith. The biggest piece they part with is the standout offseason acquisition, Anfernee Simons, who would go to the Brooklyn Nets alongside multiple second-round picks.
In this scenario, the Mavericks would pick up Ziaire Williams, Cam Thomas, and a future first-round pick.
Details on Daniel Gafford
The former Chicago Bull/Washington Wizard has spent plenty of time in the Eastern Conference, seeing the Celtics more than twice a year.
During his two full seasons with the Wizards, Gafford exceeded 70 games of action during the regular season. Over the 45-game stretch with the Wizards in 2023-2024, Gafford produced averages of 10.9 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game.
He was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in that same season. Last year, Gafford played in 57 games with the Mavs, posting a career-high 12.3 points per game, along with 6.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game.
In Gafford, the Celtics would acquire a reliable veteran who is on a multi-year deal. This year, he’s earning $17.2 million. Over the next two seasons, he’ll make a little under $19 million each year.
With Gafford rumored to be a potential trade piece for Dallas, and Simons unlikely to stick around in Boston beyond this year, the Celtics would be wise to at least consider getting some value for the sharpshooting guard while they can.
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