Boston Celtics NBA Trade Deadline Tracker: Rumors, Targets, and Updates

Latest update: February 5, 1:20 a.m.

We're still waiting for the Anfernee Simons trade to Chicago for Nikola Vucevic and a second-round pick. Here's the full analysis of the trade as we know it. There is a possibility that the trade could be expanded as the Bulls consider rerouting Simons elsewhere.

I'm here to keep you updated. Whenever something happens, I’ll update this page.

You can check out our Celtics Trade Deadline Primer, which lists all the assets, restrictions, and more.

►UPDATE 2/5, 1:20 a.m.: We're still waiting on a potential Chris Boucher trade. The Celtics have listed him as out for personal reasons the past couple of games as a potential deal gets sorted. Such a move would open up room for a potential buyout. One key element to the Simons deal is that it got Boston under the first apron, so there are no restrictions on who they can sing after getting bought out.

► UPDATE 2/2, 5:09 p.m.: Brian Windhorst is reporting the Minnesota Timberwolves are "recruiting third and fourth teams to improve their offer to see if they can get Giannis [Antetokounmpo]." While this rumor doesn't directly involve the Celtics, the Celtics are poised to be a strong third or fourth team in a deal. Windhorst calls it a long shot, but don't be surprised if it comes out that the Celtics were part of the pitch in some way, especially if it gets Antetokounmpo out of the East.

Windy on the Wolves pursuit of Giannis:

"They're out there recruiting 3rd and 4th teams to try to improve their offer to see if they can get Giannis. If they don't, which I think it's a long shot you can see them looking at making a backup deal with a guard" pic.twitter.com/nJyx9XCjHJ
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) February 2, 2026

►The hottest rumor directly involving the Celtics is more about what they won’t do, which is they're not just dumping salary to avoid the tax. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports Boston isn’t going to attach picks to move Anfernee Simons.

So don’t expect a trade just to move Simons at the deadline to duck the first apron or the tax. The priority is for the Celtics to get better.

When something pops, though, this is the first section that will change.

Here are some other lingering rumors and their status

Ivica Zubac isn’t going anywhere. There's no smoke around that rumor anymore. The Celtic reportedly made an over a couple of months ago when the Clippers looked terrible and were rebuffed.
The Chicago Bulls are reportedly open for business, but overtures made to Boston for Nikola Vucevic have gone nowhere. He’s 35 years old and not really mobile, so he doesn’t fit.
Also in that Scotto report is some mild interest from teams in Chris Boucher. He’s probably done in Boston, so moving him, even for a second-round pick, makes sense for Boston. They can open up another roster spot for either a minor follow-up trade into one of their exceptions, sign a buyout player, or upgrade one of their two-way players.

► UPDATE 2/5 1:20 a.m.: Kristaps Porzingis has been traded to the Golden State Warriors. The key element of that deal is the reasoning behind it, which is Milwaukee's signal that they're not trading Giannis Antetokounmpo at the deadline. With no Antetokounmpo trade, the Celtics and their new $27-plus million traded player exception will have to wait to possibly play facilitator until the summer.

►UPDATE 2/3, 2:15: The Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies have agreed to a trade. According to ESPN, Jaren Jackson, Jr., Jock Landale, and Vince Williams Jr. are going to Utah, and Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang will go to Memphis.

The Jazz already have Walker Kessler, so Landale could be on the move. Someone to watch as the Celtics scan the market. They have the obvious connection to Danny and Austin Ainge, so a move makes sense. Landale makes $2.3 million, so he can easily be moved.

►UPDATE 2/2, 9:25 p.m.: Zeke Nnaji is available, likely for nothing. The Nuggets are looking to duck under the tax, and they're willing to pay a team to take him. The Celtics can take him into their Kristaps Porzingis traded player exception, and would likely want to send someone like Xavier Tillman out to minimize the tax impact. Nnaji is a reclamation project, but at $8.2 million this year and $7.5 million each of the next two seasons, he could be worth a swing in Boston's development system.

►The Giannis Antetokounmpo saga has ground a lot of business to a halt. However, the Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors seem to be making meaningful pushes to get a deal done right now. One thing to watch is how the Celtics might get involved as a third team.

Take this report from the Miami Herald:

“The Heat’s offer, according to a source, is widely expected to include [Kel’el] Ware, Tyler Herro, Terry Rozier’s expiring contract, and another young player or more, as well as first-round picks in 2030 and 2032 and possibly first-round pick swaps in 2026, 2029 and 2031.”

That's four players going out, and, as of right now, one coming back in. The Bucks can always add players into the deal to Miami, and the Heat would have to fill out their roster to be in compliance, but there's also a chance a third team could get involved to make things a bit easier. Can the Celtics be that team? Would they want to be? And who could they get in return?

►There’s no evidence that Goga Bitadze is actually available, but Orlando has enough teams asking about him that I wonder if they’ll listen if the right shooter comes along.

►Don’t expect any move that brings back a max player. The Celtics worked very hard to get out of the second apron. Unless Nico Harrison hijacks another front office and gifts Boston an obvious superstar deal, there's no one on the market making that kind of money that interests the Celtics. The goal is to add depth around the Jaylen Brown/Jayson Tatum duo and shore up weaknesses, not make a huge splash.

Again, this page will be updated with any new rumors on a regular basis. Check back to see if there's anything new.