How Intriguing Celtics Trade Target Feels About Boston Reunion Rumors

The Boston Celtics have been linked to minimal pre-trade deadline rumors, but none more interesting than the potential reunion with Guerschon Yabusele.

Yabusele returned to NBA basketball after a six-year hiatus by signing a one-year, $2.1 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. It was a low-risk, high-reward contract that’s since paid off tremendously and has made Yabusele a desired midseason pickup to several teams, including the Celtics, according to reports.

It’ll be an unforeseen full-circle return to Boston if the Celtics do acquire Yabusele. The 29-year-old was Boston’s 16th overall selection in the first round of the 2016 NBA draft and lasted two seasons before departing silently. Yabusele didn’t have a role, nor was the opportunity opened to carve one out. That isn’t the case now, but until anything official transpires, Yabusele isn’t invested in the rumor mill.

“Well, if something like that happened, then I will talk about it when it happens,” Yabusele told reporters Sunday after Boston’s 118-110 victory over Philadelphia, per CLNS Media. “But as far as right now, I’m trying to worry about our team. We got our thing going on, we got ups and downs, but I feel like in the last couple of games, we’ve been showing a lot of great things.”

Boston overcame a 26-point deficit, tying the largest comeback completed this season and recording the largest under head coach Joe Mazzulla to defeat the 76ers. It was a tough pill to swallow on Philadelphia’s side, but Yabusele performed up to par and reinforced why he’d be a suitable deadline addition for the Celtics. Yabusele scored 21 points and grabbed six rebounds across 36 starting minutes.

When the final buzzer went off, Yabusele and Jayson Tatum shared a brotherly hug on the court. It’s a standard postgame embrace for the end of any NBA matchup, but it was especially sentimental for the former Celtics teammates.

Yabusele remains committed to a Sixers-focused mindset for the time being. Philadelphia uplifted the 6-foot-8 forward this past summer after Yabusele improved his stock value while playing for Team France in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Yet, even though Yabusele hasn’t been moved from Philadelphia, it doesn’t mean the Sixers aren’t fielding phone calls behind the scenes.

Therefore, Yabusele is maintaining an open mind while not getting caught up with the business side of basketball that’s beyond his control.

“I feel like with what happened (Saturday night with Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis), everybody’s in a place where you can be moved,” Yabusele said. “So, I’m not trying to think too much about it. I’m just trying to come out here, do my job and do it the best I can. Try to help the team. … If it does happen, I will be in whatever situation I gotta be in, so I don’t wanna get my head into this a little too much. I’m just trying to think about playing right now. I’m still a Sixers player, and I hope to stay a Sixers player.”

Yabusele has been one of the league’s biggest offseason free agency bargains, averaging 11 points, 5.5 rebounds and two assists while shooting 51.5% from the floor and 40.2% from 3-point territory. He’s also made 24 starts through Philadelphia’s first 46 games, stepping up amid the absences of co-stars Joel Embiid and Paul George.

The Sixers have brought out the best of Yabusele, but the Celtics could use “The Dancing Bear” back in Boston before the playoffs when it’s officially time for the reigning champs to chase their repeat.