Boston Celtics were reluctant to make a trade prior to the deadline

The Boston Celtics once again didn’t make any changes to their team prior to the trade deadline and feel confident with the group they have.

The Boston Celtics currently are in third place in the Eastern Conference with a 36-15 record this season. Considering the team is playing quite well, the Celtics did not pull the trigger on any roster moves prior to the NBA trading deadline.

The main point of concern surrounding the Boston Celtics over the last few years, especially around the trading deadline, has been the need of a true and dominant big man. They need a center that can protect the rim and be a dominant force in and around the paint.

The Celtics don’t need a center who can get outside and shoot 3’s. They need a traditional center that can do all the dirty work under the basket. A traditional center would thrive on a Celtics team surrounded by Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown.

Over the years, the Celtics have been able to get by with guys like Al Horford and Daniel Theis playing center. But realistically, Horford and Theis are true power forwards. Theis could be even more beneficial to the team by playing power forward and being paired on the floor with another big man; a true center.

The Celtics have four centers on their 15 man roster: Enes Kanter, Robert Williams, Vincent Poirier and Theis. Putting into consideration that Williams and Poirier have been injured for a majority of the season, and although they’ve been great, Kanter and Theis just aren’t enough to hold down the big men in the Eastern Conference.

When Danny Ainge, president of basketball operations for the Celtics, was asked about his center position heading into the trading deadline this week, Ainge seemed to feel confident with the rotation he currently has.

"“We’re not getting beat at the center position. They’re holding their own with all the centers in the league. I feel good about our center position.” – Danny Ainge, per Toucher & Rich on 98.5 The Sports Hub"

Ainge went on to explain how he took a page out of Red Auerbach’s handbook and didn’t make a trade, just to make a trade. Ainge would even say he would have liked to strengthen the end of his bench, but ultimately he didn’t feel there were any moves to be made.

There’s still another way for the Celtics to improve their team for this season. The buyout market. There’s a lengthy list of great players who could potentially be bought out of their current situation and be put on another team.

The current players on the team have built a rapport and chemistry with each other all season and are happy that nobody got traded away. Perhaps the Boston Celtics didn’t make a move because even improving their roster could negatively affect what they have worked hard to rebuild; the overall chemistry on the team.

"“We didn’t make any moves, which is perfectly fine for us. We’re extremely confident in each other. We love the group we have. We love playing basketball for each other.” – Kemba Walker, per Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston"