A former NBA executive said that the Boston Celtics can make an “interesting” move for an NBA All-Star, who just scored 48 points for his country.
The Celtics are taking a season away from contending for the NBA championship after Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury ruled him out for most, if not all, of the upcoming season. They spent the summer shedding salaries ahead of the 2026 offseason.
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Boston looked to get under the second apron, which has given them flexibility for future roster moves. And Bobby Marks, a former NBA executive, said they can make a big move for an All-Star for when Tatum returns.
Boston Celtics could trade for Lauri Markkanen, says Bobby Marks
The Celtics could use their newfound cap space to trade for All-Star Lauri Markkanen, said Marks. Speaking on NBA Today, he said, “Boston is interesting to me. I know we’ve talked a lot about how much money they’ve saved, over $300 million.
“But eventually they have to start adding pieces, and look at that 2026 season. They have that Anfernee Simons expiring contract, which is roughly $27 million. They’ve got six first-round picks; certainly, they can include this year’s pick.
“That’s the type of player that fits if you’re trying to take a gap year and then also add a piece for next offseason when Jayson Tatum gets back.”
The Celtics traded Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis in order to create some space for the 2026 offseason. Tatum’s injury, which looks to be healing well, gave them an opportunity to reset their roster and challenge for future championships with Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
But there’s no point having space if you won’t use it as a championship contender, and Markkanen is exactly the player that would make them clear favourites in the Eastern Conference.
Lauri Markkanen on fire for Finland before EuroBasket
In preparation for the upcoming EuroBasket, Markkanen is lighting it up for Finland. He played two games against Belgium and scored 48 points in his first outing, followed by a 31-point night.
Markkanen is coming off a down year with the Utah Jazz, so his recent form is promising. He scored 19 points per game last season, down from his 25.6 points a night in 2023, which made him an All-Star, and the NBA’s Most Improved Player.
He signed a five-year, $238 million deal with the Jazz in 2024. That makes him a difficult asset to trade for. But he looks to be recapturing his form from a few seasons ago, which is invaluable for a team like Boston that just gave up two pivotal pieces from their 2024 title.
The East is wide open this season. Tatum is out, and as is Tyrese Haliburton from the NBA Finalist Indiana Pacers. This trade would slam the door shut again in 2026, as the Celtics look to win their 19th title.