Celtics Linked To Former MVP In Free Agency

The Boston Celtics have spent the majority of their offseason unloading talent in an effort to avoid the second apron of the NBA’s new salary cap. With the start of the 2025-26 campaign drawing near, though, could they be interested in bringing a new face to town?

For the most part, the Celtics’ offseason has been defined by their losses. Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis were traded, while Luke Kornet (and presumably Al Horford) departed in free agency. Beyond that, Jayson Tatum is set to miss most, if not all, of the upcoming season after rupturing his Achilles tendon in the playoffs last season.

Boston still has solid players like Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard leading the way, but there are significant holes on their roster that did not exist just a couple of months ago.

Perhaps the biggest of the bunch of bench scoring. While one of Pritchard or Anfernee Simons will likely come off the bench, the C’s don’t have many options beyond them. With that in mind, the team has been linked to Russell Westbrook as a potential destination for the former MVP.

“Derrick White and Payton Pritchard remain present and will inevitably have larger roles, while Anfernee Simons 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,” Fox Sports wrote.

“Relying on being a dominant defensive team that can stretch the floor won’t work for the Celtics in 2025-2026. They need variety and, more than anything, capable and willing scorers. Westbrook fits the bill.”

Westbrook is not the superstar caliber player he once was, but he still has value as a two-way guard off the bench who can make an impact. Last season with the Denver Nuggets, Westbrook averaged 13.3 points, 6.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game on 44.9% shooting.

With White, Pritchard and Simons already in tow, adding Westbrook may seem a bit excessive. For now, it probably isn’t all that likely, but if Simons gets traded, which very well could end up happening, maybe this is a move Boston would be more interested in.