The Boston Celtics already have 14 players inked to standard roster spots heading into the 2025-26 NBA season, although wing Jordan Walsh and center Neemias Queta’s deals aren’t fully guaranteed.

Would the team really want to add a 15th name before the start of the year?

Robbie Stratakos of Fox Sports advocates for Boston considering former nine-time All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook, who surprisingly remains unsigned deep into free agency.

The Pacers, Celtics and Bucks are the best fits for Russell Westbrook: https://t.co/Ld0bKloUMQ

— Robbie Stratakos (@RPStratakos) September 5, 2025

“One year ago, the Celtics were the defending NBA champions and paying everybody on their roster. Now, they’re a team coming off a second-round playoff exit that lost its star player, Jayson Tatum, for the 2025-26 season to an Achilles tear, and traded away Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday to shed long-term payroll,” Stratakos writes. “Plus, Al Horford remains a free agent. Westbrook would be a bargain-bin addition for a team needing a boost.”

“Yes, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard remain present and will inevitably have larger roles, while Anfernee Simons – who the Celtics acquired from the Portland Trail Blazers in their trade return for Holiday – is a plausible scorer in his own right. At the same time, Westbrook could be himself on the Celtics, coming off the bench as the second unit’s leading scorer.”

“For perspective, the departures/absences of Tatum, Porzingis, Holiday and Horford means that 66.4 points per game from last season is gone. Granted, Simons, who averaged 19.3 points per game last season, will fill in some of that production for Boston. Relying on being a dominant defensive team – Boston was second in the NBA in opponent points per game and opponent field goal percentage last season – that can stretch the floor – Boston led the NBA with 48.2 3-point attempts per game last season – won’t work for the Celtics in 2025-2026. They need variety and, more than anything, capable and willing scorers. Westbrook fits the bill.”

“What could stop the Celtics from pursuing Westbrook, though, is them potentially feeling that they have enough veteran guards in their rotation, making the veteran a superfluous addition.”

This story will be updated…