The Boston Celtics are coming off a playoff exit that stung more than most. They had a 3-1 lead on the Sixers in the first round. Then Joel Embiid happened. The big man took over, Philly ripped off three straight wins, and suddenly the Celtics were watching the Knicks roll to a title from their couches at home.
The frontcourt issue was impossible to miss. Boston just couldn’t handle Embiid in the paint. Not even close. And with the Knicks and Sixers both looking like they’ll be factors for years, Brad Stevens has to do something about the center position this summer.
There’s been chatter about a blockbuster involving Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jaylen Brown. But that noise has quieted down lately. It might still happen. It probably won’t. What’s more realistic is Stevens using the No. 27 pick in a draft-night trade to grab immediate help up front.
The Celtics need a big who can play now
This draft class has three elite frontcourt prospects at the top. AJ Dybantsa from BYU is basically a lock to go No. 1 to Washington. Cam Boozer from Duke and Caleb Wilson from North Carolina are expected at Nos. 3 and 4. Stevens would love one of those guys. But the Wizards, Grizzlies, and Bulls aren’t moving off those picks. Not for anything Boston can offer.
The smarter play is trading into the late lottery. Milwaukee holds No. 10. Golden State has No. 11. Either spot could land the guy Stevens wants: Michigan’s Aday Mara.
Mara is 7-foot-3 and 240 pounds. He’s not the next Victor Wembanyama. He doesn’t need to be. The kid from Zaragoza, Spain just helped the Wolverines win a national title. He transferred from UCLA after two years where he was mostly a non-factor. At Michigan, everything clicked. Mara averaged 12.1 points, 6.8 boards, and 2.6 blocks. He led the country in field goal percentage at 66.8 percent and blocks per game. Those are real numbers against real competition.
What Mara brings to the table right away
He’s an efficient scorer around the rim. He protects the paint. And he’s a legit passer even if the assist count doesn’t jump out at you (2.4 per game). The knock is strength and conditioning. He needs more muscle to hold his ground against NBA bigs. Without it, he’s a part-time player at best. But the raw tools are there.
If the Celtics can grab Mara, he helps them next season. His ceiling down the road is even higher if he puts in the work on his frame.
Golden State at No. 11 feels like the more realistic trade partner than Milwaukee at No. 10. The Celtics and Bucks have reportedly talked about bigger deals, and those conversations might not be dead. But the Bucks are eyeing Tennessee’s Nate Ament with that pick. They might want to hang onto it.
What a deal with the Warriors could look like
Boston would need to offer more than just a pick swap. The Warriors need interior size too. So they’d want a player back. Neemias Queta makes sense here. The soon-to-be 27-year-old center showed real growth last season, averaging 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in about 25 minutes a night. He’d help Golden State immediately. Add a 2027 second-round pick (the Celtics have two that year) and you’ve got the bones of a deal that works for both sides.
Stevens has been quiet about specific plans. That’s his style. But the roster needs aren’t a secret. The Celtics need a center who can handle playoff basketball right now. Mara might be that guy. A trade to get him feels like the most realistic path forward, not the flashy one everyone’s been talking about.
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