BOSTON — In the NBA, remaining still can be fatal. The best teams adjust, pivot, and seize unexpected openings. The Boston Celtics may now have that opportunity by pursuing Ja Morant in an unexpected swoop.
Celtics’ Next Big Move? A Swoop For Ja Morant
Boston entered the season expecting a gap year after Jayson Tatum’s devastating Achilles tear during last season’s playoffs. Many assumed a full rebuild was in motion after the team also moved on from Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis. Yet, against expectations, the Celtics sit tenth in the East with a 4–5 record — just 1.5 games behind the cluster tied for second.
Team CEO Wyc Grousbeck made the team’s initial stance clear. “We’re assuming he’s not coming back, and we’re not even going to have any discussions about it,” Grousbeck said on WEEI last month. He added, “At some point, he’s going to be ready to come back. Whenever that is, we’ll get five doctors’ opinions, we’ll ask him how he feels, and then we’ll all decide jointly, let’s do this.”
Still, Tatum’s recovery may surprise everyone. Surgeon Martin J. O’Malley, who operated on Tatum, said back in September, “I don’t think I’ve seen a person’s calf look as strong as his. At six or eight weeks he was doing double heel rises.” That speed suggests a faster return than initially projected — meaning the Celtics’ so-called gap year could quickly shift direction.
The Perfect Opening for a Star Swoop
Enter the possibility that Celtics trade for Ja Morant. The Memphis guard has appeared visibly frustrated this season. His discontent with head coach Tuomas Lisalo has spilled into the public eye. Timeouts often show Morant standing apart from his teammates, expression blank, his energy far from the high-flying spark fans remember.
In the NBA, where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire. Front-office chatter suggests Morant’s value mirrors that of Kyrie Irving in 2023 — a high-reward, volatile star available at the right price. The Nets fetched Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, a 2029 unprotected first-rounder, and two seconds for Irving. The Celtics, armed with movable salaries in Anfernee Simons and Sam Hauser plus a war chest of picks, could easily top that offer.
NBA executives around the league believe Ja Morant’s trade value could be similar to Kyrie Irving’s when he was in Brooklyn.
“One team executive ESPN talked to pointed to the 2023 trade that sent Kyrie Irving from the Nets to the Dallas Mavericks. In that deal, the Nets received… pic.twitter.com/aQm3wWQMjO
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) November 6, 2025
The Celtics have a recent history of opportunism. He landed a disgruntled Irving from Cleveland in 2017, then surprised the league in 2023 by swooping for Holiday and Porziņģis. The Celtics trading for Ja Morant would continue that tradition — bold, calculated, and perfectly timed.
Morant’s Fit in Boston’s System
Morant brings undeniable flaws. He’s surpassed 65 games just once and still shoots just 31.1% from three. Yet, his strengths fit what Boston currently lacks. The Celtics dropped from a top-10 fast-break team in 2024 to bottom five last season. Morant-led squads, when healthy, consistently rank top-10 in transition points. His explosiveness, court vision, and creativity could restore Boston’s up-tempo edge.
Alongside Tatum’s half-court control, Morant’s slashing and lob-finishing create a balance few defenses could withstand. And while critics label him a poor defender, the numbers say otherwise. He’s ranked in the 74th percentile in points allowed per 100 possessions over the past four seasons — a testament to his system discipline. Add Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, and Tatum to that lineup, and suddenly Boston’s perimeter defense could hum again.
A Second Chance for Both Sides
Once considered the league’s next face, Morant’s image has dimmed after three turbulent seasons. But new surroundings, structure, and expectations could reignite his prime. Meanwhile, the Celtics — one of the NBA’s most tradition-rich franchises — could return to contention even before Tatum’s full recovery. Afterall, the East’s contenders have not been overwhelming convincing so far. The Celtics can dare to dream.
In a league that rewards boldness, this move might be exactly the pivot Boston needs. The window is narrow, but the opportunity is golden.
© Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
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