The Boston Celtics will most likely be active at the trade deadline once again this season and this time it’s being suggested it’ll be for a more modern center to backup Robert Williams or at the very least acquire some positive insurance for when Rob is out.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst has linked the Celtics into acquiring Jakob Poeltl from the San Antonio Spurs, who are one of their most recent allies at the trade deadline (Brad Stevens acquired Derrick White at the deadline last season from the Spurs).

“The Celtics are in the [luxury] tax for the first time in a while, they’re willing to spend, they can trade a first round pick. So Poeltl makes $9.3, that’s not a huge salary to try and get up there and match, so if they’re willing to include a pick, the Celtics can do it. They have some contracts they could cobble together that could get them there.”

Windhorst isn’t wrong about the Celtics being able to put a nice trade package together at the trading deadline. And it wouldn’t be fair if we didn’t mention that there is speculation of the Celtics potentially parting ways with Payton Pritchard to not only give themselves a player they need, but also to give Pritchard an opportunity to play more and shine in another situation on another team. 

Between Pritchard, Danilo Gallinari, Justin Jackson, and a first round pick, there’s room to bring in a ~$10 million contract or so. I guess if the negotiations are going to be for a center, there’s an unfortunate chance that Luke Kornet will be part of that trade (which I wouldn’t want but I get it).

Poeltl is averaging 11.9 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.2 blocks while shooting 62.4 percent from the field in 34 games (all starts) for the Spurs this season.

It’s unknown if the Spurs are willing to budge on Poeltl, but if they do, we can assume that Stevens will be making a few calls about him.

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