An expert has urged the Boston Celtics front office to bolster its frontcourt, with a trade for a big man from an Eastern Conference rival.
This summer, Boston team president Brad Stevens shredded the rotation that won the team its NBA-record 18th championship in 2024.
After six-time All-Star power forward Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles tendon and the Celtics got booted out of the second round of the playoffs, Stevens traded starting center Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks for Georges Niang and a future second-round draft pick (he later flipped Niang, the future draft selection, and an additional second-rounder to the Utah Jazz for two-way rookie wing RJ Luis Jr. and a trade exception).
A summer of change in Beantown
Third-string center Luke Kornet inked a three-year, $41 million agreement with the San Antonio Spurs.
Beloved backup center/power forward Al Horford was apparently offered a deal to return, which Brian Robb of Mass Live suggested was "likely" a veteran's minimum. He seems to be headed for a deal with the Golden State Warriors, whenever the team sorts out Jonathan Kuminga's restricted free agency.
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The Celtics brought in free agents Chris Boucher and Luka Garza to replace these departures, while former fourth-string center Neemias Queta now has a legitimate opportunity to possibly start at the position.
Still, the team doesn't exactly have proven commodities at the five spot.
That's why Jack Simone of Hardwood Houdini posits that Brooklyn Nets center Day'Ron Sharpe, who just re-signed with the perennial lottery club this summer, could represent a possible solution.
The 23-year-old center out of North Carolina agreed to a two-season, $12.5 million deal to stay in Brooklyn.
Day’Ron’s back!
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) September 3, 2025
The Nets have re-signed @dayron_sharpe to a multi-year contract. pic.twitter.com/UokU7AkNLQ
Critically, the 6-foot-11 pro adjusted a contract mechanism that will give Brooklyn the flexibility it may need to move him at some point during the length of the (admittedly brief) deal.
Per Keith Smith of Spotrac, Sharpe declined an "implied no-trade clause" that was apparently available to him by nature of his new deal.
Day'Ron Sharpe waived his implied no-trade clause in his new deal with the Brooklyn Nets, a league source told @spotrac.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) September 9, 2025
Sharpe was eligible for a NTC because his deal includes an option (team option in this case) on the second season.
“Day'Ron Sharpe waived his implied no-trade clause in his new deal with the Brooklyn Nets, a league source told @spotrac,” Smith writes on X. “Sharpe was eligible for a NTC [no-trade clause] because his deal includes an option (team option in this case) on the second season.”
In 50 healthy bouts for the 26-56 Nets as the team's primary backup behind starter Nic Claxton, Sharpe averaged career highs of 7.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.8 blocks, across just 18.1 minutes per.
He's an elite offensive rebounder, and still incredibly affordable even if he's making about double the veteran's minimum.
As a new signing, Sharpe is ineligible to be traded anywhere until midway through the 2025-26 season.
Then again, if the Celtics are indeed "soft tanking" during a season when they'll be without their best player and have also traded away another pricey starter in Jrue Holiday this summer, maybe they don't want to look for a possible long-term solution at center just yet, and will be content to see this triumvirate of Boucher (who can play at either power forward or center), Queta and Garza duke it out for what will ultimately be a backup role the next time Boston contends.
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