Celtics’ Perfect Buy-Low Trade Target at Center Is Clear
The Boston Celtics have rarely looked this thin in the frontcourt. Just three months ago, the team’s center rotation boasted the veteran depth of Kristaps Porziņģis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet. Fast forward to today, and the group looks drastically different: Neemias Queta, Luka Garza, and Xavier Tillman Sr. are currently the top three options.
For a roster that has felt airtight for years, this new void at center stands out as one of the few glaring holes. While it might lower expectations for what Boston’s rotation can immediately provide, it also makes trade speculation far more intriguing. And one name in particular looks like the perfect buy-low option.
Oso Ighodaro on the Radar
During a recent episode of The Game Theory Podcast, Sam Vecenie highlighted Phoenix Suns center Oso Ighodaro as a player who could be on the move. After praising the second-year big man’s performance at Summer League, Vecenie raised doubts about how Ighodaro fits in Phoenix long term.
“Based on what we saw from Oso Ighodaro at Summer League, I think he’s just good,” Vecenie told co-host Bryce Simon. “Like, I just straight-up think Oso is good, and I have no idea how he’s going to play [in Phoenix] long term. They just went out and got Mark Williams and Khaman Maluach.”
Vecenie floated the Indiana Pacers as one possible destination, before circling back to Boston: “The Celtics make perfect sense for Oso.”
Why Ighodaro Fits in Boston
From Boston’s perspective, Ighodaro checks multiple boxes. At seven feet tall with mobility and touch around the basket, he fits the profile of a developmental center who could stabilize depth now and grow into a bigger role later.
As a rookie last season, the former Marquette standout logged 61 games for the Suns, averaging 4.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in just over 17 minutes per game. While those numbers don’t leap off the page, his impact was felt in subtler ways.
Ighodaro has already shown flashes as a connective playmaker who can facilitate from the elbows, hit cutters, and finish efficiently inside. His soft push shot floater makes him more dangerous than a typical rim-runner. For a Celtics roster that thrives on ball movement and spacing, adding a young center with that toolkit makes sense.
Why the Suns Might Move Him
The challenge for Ighodaro in Phoenix is opportunity. The Suns recently invested in young bigs like Mark Williams and Khaman Maluach, crowding the rotation further. Even after appearing in 61 games as a rookie, Ighodaro could quickly fall to fourth on the depth chart.
That redundancy creates the type of situation Boston could capitalize on. Unlike chasing a star big, targeting Ighodaro represents a low-risk, high-reward swing.
What It Might Cost Boston
Vecenie estimated Ighodaro’s trade value at around two second-round picks. For a Celtics team with championship aspirations, that price tag is negligible. Boston wouldn’t be mortgaging future flexibility, nor would it risk disrupting the top of its rotation.
Instead, the move would give them a cost-controlled young center who could plug into backup minutes immediately and develop behind the scenes. With Al Horford nearing retirement and Porziņģis’ injury history always a concern, taking a chance on Ighodaro feels like a prudent long-term play.
The Obvious Next Step
The Celtics rarely find themselves with such a clear positional weakness. Oso Ighodaro may not solve everything overnight, but he looks like the kind of affordable trade target who could grow with this roster and provide value in both the short and long term.
For a team searching for stability at center, the dream buy-low option is right there — and Boston may not want to wait long before exploring it.
