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Mar 6, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) has a laugh with guard Jaylen Brown (7) during the second half against the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
The Boston Celtics have every reason to prioritize enjoying a productive 2026 offseason.
The franchise’s current roster isn’t getting the job done in the playoffs, as, once again, their 2025-26 season ended in May. The Celtics had no business losing to the 76ers after being in the driver’s seat early on (3-1 lead). However, brutal perimeter shooting down the stretch of the series, combined with inexcusable defensive breakdowns, led to a premature playoff exit.
Could Boston find itself shaking things up this summer by making a beneficial trade for a perimeter-oriented contributor? Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley thinks so, citing that acquiring a 6-foot-4 Oklahoma City Thunder NBA champion guard should receive interest from Boston.
“Too often this postseason the Celtics found themselves desperately searching for—and ultimately failing to find—ignitable scoring and steady shotmaking from their support staff,” Buckley said Saturday. “Joe could help simplify those searches.”
"And there's a non-zero chance he finds his way to the trade market if the Thunder decide their climbing financial commitments are no longer tenable.
"He's a net-shredding specialist of the highest order. This was his fourth season as a rotation regular and his fourth season with a better than 40% splash rate from the perimeter.”
“The Celtics, of course, have some designated distance shooters already, so they might not be inclined to pay what it would take to pry him out of the Sooner State. That said, the cost is the only thing keeping him from ranking even higher.”
If the Celtics are looking for a reliable second-unit contributor with a positive track record as a three-point specialist, Jones certainly fits the bill. The former second-round pick finished his first season with the Thunder (2022-23) with a 40.9% three-point shooting percentage and never looked back.
Joe’s ability to serve as a spark plug off the bench helped the Thunder capture their first-ever championship last season, and his high-level perimeter play has Oklahoma City in position to repeat as NBA champions this year.
Jones is averaging a career-high 11.1 points per game this season, shooting 45.5% from the field and 42.3% from three-point land. The Thunder would likely be reluctant to part with Jones this summer, but that shouldn’t deter the Celtics from pursuing him when the time comes.
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