After virtually gutting their roster over the summer season, the Boston Celtics must be holding their eyes open for front-court upgrades. As they ramp up for the beginning of the 2025-26 season, they’ll doubtless begin the yr evaluating what they’ve at heart.
I can save them a while: they do not have a lot with Chris Boucher, Luke Garza, and Neemias Queta. A few of that is not on them, with Al Horford and Luke Kornet each leaving in free company. Nonetheless, they traded Kristaps Porzingis, exasperating their largest flaw.
Fortunately for them, they might have been gifted the right commerce goal. Utah Jazz heart Walker Kessler is not anticipated to achieve an settlement on an extension that may maintain him from hitting restricted free company subsequent summer season.
Walker Kessler on probably not getting an extension: “I am positively slightly annoyed … so long as I’ve a Utah Jazz jersey on I’ll play profitable basketball.”
— Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) September 29, 2025
That implies that he may very well be out there forward of the commerce deadline for any groups searching for a younger, proficient huge man. Consequently, the Celtics must be very concerned with Kessler.
The Boston Celtics should commerce for Walker Kessler this season
The Celtics’ present heart rotation is among the many worst within the NBA, and Kessler can be a direct improve over all three gamers. He’s barely 24 years outdated—younger for a middle contemplating many play deep into their 30s. Kessler can also be top-of-the-line rebounders and rim protectors within the NBA.
Whereas he’s comparatively restricted offensively, as soon as Jayson Tatum is wholesome, he, alongside Derrick White and Jaylen Brown, will shoulder many of the offensive load. Meaning Kessler may thrive with the Celtics, doing what he does greatest.
Boston in all probability does not have championship aspirations this season, however their gap at heart will probably be an issue that carries into subsequent season if not resolved. There’s additionally an underrated motive why the Celtics ought to goal Kessler: Jazz CEO Danny Ainge.
He has ties to Boston as a former participant and govt. Ainge is perhaps extra keen to assist the Celtics in comparison with the Los Angeles Lakers, who’ve been concerned with Kessler for some time.
Walker Kessler may very well be effectively well worth the potential value for the Celtics
It may cost a little the Celtics at the very least a first-round decide and matching wage, however that might effectively be value it if Kessler is a legit starting-caliber heart on a championship-caliber crew.
Final season—his first full season as a starter—he averaged a formidable 11.1 factors, 12.2 rebounds, together with a league-leading 4.6 offensive rebounds, and a couple of.4 blocks per recreation. These aren’t essentially all-star numbers.
Nonetheless, they trace that he may very well be a extremely productive huge man that excels on the glass, is succesful sufficient as a scorer, and is terrific at swatting pictures. If he could be that participant for Boston when they’re at full energy, then Kessler must be on the prime of the Celtics’ potential commerce targets throughout the season.
All in all, the Celtics will virtually definitely want an improve at heart this season. If the worth is true, they need to goal Jazz heart Walker Kessler, probably giving them an enormous improve in each the quick and long run.
