Celtics Mailbag: Could Boston land Al Horford replacement at trade deadline? - masslive.com

[JB]

https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2026/01/celtics-mailbag-could-boston-land-al-horford-replacement-at-trade-deadline.html

Celtics Mailbag: Could Boston land Al Horford replacement at trade deadline?

By

• Brian Robb | br...@masslive.com

Published: Jan. 16, 2026, 6:00 a.m.

[Jack Jemsek]

Hey - WCJr is my binkie for the Horford replacement… calling out plagiarism hahaha!!

To shore up their frontline, we can offer Amari Williams…and have to use a TPE to git r done, which is why we got them - to be used!!

Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS

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Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) collides with Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) as he goes to the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in Orlando, Fla.(AP Photo/John Raoux)

The Celtics are entering the final phase of roster evaluation leading up to the trade deadline next month. With Boston in the middle of a very tight Eastern Conference playoff picture, there will be a lot to weigh for Brad Stevens and the rest of Boston’s front office in the coming weeks as the team weighs tweaking the roster. Let’s explore some questions about some potential big man targets and more in this week’s mailbag.

Who says no:

Celtics trade Sam Hauser, Chris Boucher, their 2026 1st and 2 future seconds for Wendell Carter Jr. Orlando gets some much needed three-point shooting and some ammo to make a swing on another piece if they want to bundle guys like black, Issac etc with those picks. post-trade lineup for them is:

Suggs

Bane

Hauser

Wagner

Paolo

With Black, Issac, Bitazde as first three off the bench. Paolo at the five opens up floor more and makes them harder to guard without giving up much defensively on perimeter (lose some rim protection but get more shooting/spacing)

Celtics get a cost controlled big that fits their timeline and is the closest thing to Horford since Horford. allows them to go huge when Tatum is back with starting five of

White

Brown

Tatum

Carter

Queta

with Pritchard, Simons, walsh, Gonzalez, Scheierman off the bench with Garza as third big if needed. Celtics free up some run for kids that might otherwise get stamped out when Tatum returns and save a decent amount of tax this year. Can’t see them wanting to add another young player with core of young good guys they already have who won’t play enough when Tatum is back and Wendell plugs a lot of holes while giving them the ability to show a lot of different looks. — Matt D

Carter Jr. is a fascinating option since his salary is so low for this year ($10.8 million) and he’s under a reasonable deal through 2028-29. The annual salary bumps a bit next year ($18 million) but that’s at a price point that the Celtics can make work with their current roster.

The problem is two-fold though. To begin, the Magic are a team that’s all-in on the present after giving up four picks for Desmond Bane. Carter Jr. is having a strong season (for his standards) and the big man depth chart isn’t exactly loaded behind him (Goga Bitadze, Mo Wagner coming off a torn ACL). Hauser would be a nice shooting upgrade for them but that’s a pretty notable downgrade for them at center even if they are playing more small ball.

It’s likely going to take some additional sweetener to get Magic interested, whether that’s a younger wing with potential or another first-round pick. However, I’m not sure Carter Jr. is the caliber of player that is worthy of that type of compensation. His age (26) lines up well with the Celtics timeline but he’s only 6-foot-10 and has never been a reliable 3-point shooter (32 percent for career, 27 percent in playoffs). All things considered, a player worth inquiring on but someone I wouldn’t expect to be available at the Celtics price point.

The NBA will soon expand from 30 teams to 32. Will this be a good time to realign into four divisions of eight teams each? And then have the top four teams in each division make the playoffs and play against each other to determine the four division winners who then play in semifinals and finals?

Currently the NBA division system is pointless. If they do go with four divisions, do you see the league grouping teams geographically (e.g. East, South, North, West) or is there a better way?

Thanks. - tom bisson

I agree about divisions being pointless in the NBA and they have been for years. The only thing is really matters for is guaranteeing you play teams in your division four times. I think dividing in four divisions geographically would make sense for scheduling purposes.

However, not a fan of making the divisions simply being a top-4 situation to qualify for the playoffs. That would inevitably lead to a few worthy teams failing to qualify if some division gets stacked with five or six great teams one year. The solution would be taking a page from the NHL’s current system potentially if the league went this route. Top three teams in each division make the playoffs and two wildcard berths from there. I honestly don’t mind the current system, (pooling all the teams in each conference together for rankings) but the divisions’ role in that right now is meaningless. If the NBA wants to make divisions have some purpose again, your idea would be a good way to go about it.

I like Gafford, and was looking at fake trades for him at the start of the season. That said, his contract isn’t great. I assume the trade market isn’t real strong for him. Would an expiring Simons for him and whatever matching contracts be enough? Maybe a second round pick or two? — Banton J

It’s fascinating to consider how his market will play out. The Mavericks gave up a first-round pick and an expiring contract to acquire him back in 2024, ahead of their run to the NBA Finals. They signed him to a hefty extension this summer but given the fact that the team is looking to pivot towards building around Cooper Flagg, Gafford’s deal suddenly looks quite expendable for the franchise.

His salary for the next three years ($18 million AAV) is reasonable but hasn’t done much to improve his stock this year. He’s been dealing with an ankle injury for much of the season, averaging just 20.8 minutes per game in 29 appearances.

The Mavericks don’t have the leeway to take on some extra money (they are only $1.5 million below the second apron) so moving Simons for him would have to involve a third team or Boston taking back another salary or two. As far as draft capital goes, there is a world where I could see multiple second-round picks getting a deal done, especially if Gafford’s market is soft. There are a few teams around the league that are in the market for a big (Pacers, Warriors) but it’s unclear whether Gafford would appeal to them. This feels like an attainable player for Boston if they aren’t aiming higher at the center position.

Find this and other fine articles at the above link.

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[david Pontrelli]

I'd hold on to AW. Im not ready to throw in the towel this early on him.

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[Jack Jemsek]

I wouldn't want to give up Amari either, but the Wendell Carter Jr. fits perfectly in the current Championship window, so you'd have to consider it, and we do have other draft picks coming up to nab upcoming talent . . . a 6'10" big like Carter that is mobile and can shoot 3s while doing front court duties aren't rare but can be hard to find.

But to tell you the truth, we may already have that in the 6'10" Garza, although he's got his warts . . . Garza is elite at offensive rebounding, creating 2nd chance points, but can be underwhelming on the defensive end rebounding, which gives up 2nd chance points.  BUT in all other categories, he's on par or better than Carter . . . 

So given how well this team is playing, the potential in Garza and Amari Williams, the breakout of Queta and Walsh, the promise of Gonzalez . . . and the chemistry that goes with all this, I think we all would be content to see the Celtics stand pat at the trade deadline unless some unforeseen no-brainer of an opportunity somehow falls in their lap . . .

GARZA:

CARTER:

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