Celtics difference-makers could still add one more upgrade.

Celtics difference-makers could still add one more upgrade.

Differentiators The Celtics could yet make one last addition.
Boston still has room to add a guy to strengthen their lineup.

The Boston Celtics are about to embark on one of their most important phases of the season, having already passed the trade deadline. They may lead the second-place Cavaliers by six games and are leading the Eastern Conference in points, but now is not the time to let up.

Given the caliber of the Celtics and the players who have already earned All-Star selections, it could be tempting to take it easy in the latter stages of the season. However, Boston will need to keep up the pressure because a race for the top seed is typically not determined until the last week or two of the season at the latest.

To do that, there are still a few unsigned players the Celtics could look at adding to give them some extra breathing room in the final two months before the playoffs start. These are a few of the players they should be considering the most.

David Yapkowitz of ClutchPoints believes that Thaddeus Young is a good backup option on the buyout market if the Boston Celtics decide not to resign Danilo Gallinari.

“If the Celtics don’t end up signing Danilo Gallinari, they could turn their attention to Thaddeus Young,” Yapkowitz stated. Though he hasn’t been as effective as Gallinari in recent seasons, Young is likewise a bit of a combo forward. For the last two years, he has served as the Toronto Raptors’ more experienced mentor.

He would be more of a locker room person for the Celtics, but having a few people like that is always a good idea, especially for a team trying to win a championship.”

Analyst: If the Boston Celtics don’t get Thaddeus Young, then Danilo Gallinari Yapkowitz effectively undermined his own recommendation to acquire Young by expressing his opinion that, should the Cs fail to resurrect “The Rooster” via a buyout, they won’t genuinely require the former Georgia Tech standout.

“If the Celtics sign Young, they probably won’t depend too much on him for on-court production,” Yapkowitz stated in his opening statement. “If they don’t sign Gallinari, then making due with what they have should be sufficient.” It’s definitely the wisest course of action for them to convert Neemias Queta to a normal contract, as there has been talk about doing.