NBA Trade Rumors: Bold Proposal Sends Walker Kessler to Celtics
The Boston Celtics are in a re-tooling mode in 2025-26, with superstar Jayson Tatum out for the year (or is he really??) recovering from an Achilles tear. They also traded away two other key stars from their 2024 Championship club in Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday.
But they have every intention of being back in the mix as soon as possible.
Eddie Bitar of Fadeaway World has proposed this deal that would keep the Celtics relevant, and make them a solid contender again in 2026-27 when Tatum returns.
Boston Celtics Receive:
- Walker Kessler
Utah Jazz Receive:
- Neemias Queta
- Sam Hauser
- 2026 first-round pick (BOS)
- 2026 second-round pick (BOS)
- 2031 second-round pick (BOS)
Kessler would give the Celtics a much-needed boost down low, and fill a huge void, after shipping out big man Porzingis in a salary cost-cutting move, and losing Al Horford in free agency to the Golden State Warriors.
Kessler, just 24, is one of the top young centers in the game, and arguably THE best rim protector (Non-Wemby Division, of course). The Jazz behemoth has blocked 2.4 shots per game in each of his three NBA seasons, and exploded on the glass this past year with 12.2 rebounds per game—nearly FIVE more per night than the previous season. He also added a career-high 11.1 points per game.
Little-used Neemias Queta out of Portugal was slated to be the Celtics starter at center, which says all you need to know about the C's depth at the 'five.'
Instead, the Jazz would get a free look at Queta, 26, along with a premium long-range gunner in Sam Hauser. The Celtics would get to unload Hauser's four-year, $45 million contract to further help their bottom line.
And of course, no trade would be complete for the Jazz without receiving a first-round pick. And this one could be a valuable one, if the Celtics have a down year as expected while Tatum is out, and two of their other stars are elsewhere.
Photo: © David Butler II-Imagn Images
