Celtics make yet another trade ahead of 2025 free agency

Alex Kirschenbaum

Celtics make yet another trade ahead of 2025 free agency image

With 2025 free agency fast approaching next week, the Boston Celtics have made yet another trade.

ESPN's Shams Charania reveals that Boston is flipping its No. 32 pick in the second round to the Orlando Magic for a whopping four second round selections: the Nos. 46 and 57 picks in this year's draft, plus Orlando's 2026 and 2027 second round selections.

The Magic have used that pick on 6-foot-8 forward Noah Penda, who played for Le Mans Sarthe Basket in his native France last year. Across 29 contests for Le Mans in 2024-25, Penda notched averages of 10.2 points on .440/.304/.693 shooting splits, 5.1 boards, 2.6 dimes, and 1.4 swipes.

Penda may be a valuable pickup for a reconfigured Orlando squad, which has already overhauled its backcourt in trading for veteran guard Desmond Bane earlier this offseason.

Sam Vecenie of The Athletic had ranked Penda as the No. 21-best prospect among this year's draft class. ESPN's Jonathan Givony indicated during the broadcast that the 20-year-old will be departing the LNB Élite to suit up in the NBA for the 2025-26 season.

Boston used the No. 46 pick on Kentucky center Amari Williams. Jay Bilas noted that, though Williams has "a funky looking shot," he's a solid rebounder. The ESPN broadcast is still ongoing. The Celtics will make its next selection soon.

The week kicked off with a pair of blockbuster Boston trades. The team moved on from two championship starters in All-Defensive Team guard Jrue Holiday and former All-Star center Kristaps Porzingis in separate deals, netting three future second round picks, guard Anfernee Simons, forward Georges Niang, and (most importantly) massive luxury tax savings in return.

Williams at least theoretically could help replace the Porzingis minutes a bit off the Celtics' bench.

MORE NEWS: Brad Stevens explains Celtics surprising first round draft decision

Alex Kirschenbaum

Alex Kirschenbaum is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He grew up a devout Bulls fan, but his hoops fanaticism now extends to non-Bulls teams in adulthood. Currently also a scribe for Hoops Rumors, Sports Illustrated's On SI fan sites Newsweek and "Small Soldiers" director Joe Dante's film site Trailers From Hell, Alex is an alum of Men's Journal, Grizzlies fan site Grizzly Bear Blues and Bulls fan sites Blog-A-Bull and Pippen Ain't Easy, among others