With the NBA trade deadline looming on February 5, many people are wondering how the Boston Celtics will approach things.

The Celtics have some solid trade chips in guys like Anfernee Simons and Sam Hauser. PBO Brad Stevens has communicated that he’s open to pretty much any scenario, whether that’s buying, selling, or staying put.

It’ll all depend on what kinds of offers land on Brad’s desk.

If Boston were to make a move, you’d have to assume it would be one that strengthens the front court. Neemias Queta has been awesome as the starting center this year, but that doesn’t mean that the Celtics couldn’t use more depth at the position.

This is the line of though that probably had NBA analyst Jake Weinbach linking the Celtics to Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford in trade buzz.

Gafford’s 2025-26 campaign with the Mavs has been affected by an ankle injury that disrupted his early momentum and restricted his playing time after returning. In 22 games (14 starts), Gafford has averaged 7.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.0 assist, and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 62 percent from the field.

In the Mavericks’ 113-107 defeat of the Sacramento Kings on December 27, Gafford stepped into the starting lineup for the injured Anthony Davis, delivering 11 points, seven rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block in 23 minutes.

He inked a three-year, $54 million extension in July, setting expectations for expanded contributions in Dallas.

Gafford entered the NBA as the Chicago Bulls’ second-round pick (38th overall) in 2019. He debuted modestly before moving to the Washington Wizards in 2021, where he developed into a reliable starter. Traded to Dallas in February 2024, he excelled in 2023-24, topping the league in field goal percentage at 72.5 percent. Across 401 career games, he maintains 9.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.5 blocks averages on 70.5 percent shooting.

BUFFALO –– The Boston Bruins open a five-game road trip on Saturday with a 7 p.m. matchup against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center.

The B’s are looking to get back in the win column after dropping the last four games. Saturday marks the third of four regular-season meetings between the teams. The Bruins have beaten Buffalo twice this year: 3-1 on Oct. 11, and 4-3 in overtime on Oct. 30.

“They’re very skilled. Lots of speed. Won seven in a row. I think that alone says it all. I think we always matched up pretty good. But again, they’ve been on a hot streak. Will be a big challenge tonight,” head coach Marco Sturm said of Buffalo.

“We have to come together again as a unit. On the ice, off the ice. I think that’s where we played our best hockey – when we were connected…Now we just have to make sure we’re going to do it again.”

Tanner Jeannot will not play on Saturday in Buffalo due to an injury, Sturm said; they are still deciding which forward will enter the lineup in his absence. Jonathan Aspirot and Henri Jokiharju – who have both been out with injury – are on the road trip with the team.

“[Aspirot] will be getting a little bit closer. [Jokiharju] is skating again. So slowly, guys are coming back,” Sturm said. “They are on the trip, so that’s a good sign. I don’t know if they’re going to make it to a game or two or three. I don’t know. It’s too early to say.”