Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens. David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Celtics hunting for 'injury insurance' ahead of the trade deadline

As the Boston Celtics gear up for a potential championship run, it would appear they're looking to cover all their bases. According to Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe, the Celtics are searching for injury insurance ahead of the February 8 trade deadline. Boston's cap situation is rather precarious, but they do have a $6.2 million traded player exception at their disposal.

The Celtics need to be smart in who they target. Not every player is willing to accept a bench role, and whoever they bring in needs to be capable of being an impactful member of the rotation when called upon. 

Throughout the season, Celtics fans have been hoping for an additional big man to be added to the team. Al Horford is in the final stage of his career, Kristaps Porzingis has had a slew of injury issues throughout his time in the NBA and Luke Kornet is a risk should he be thrust into a bigger role during the playoffs. Of course, the Celtics could also target a bigger guard to give them some more size on the perimeter.

Regardless of what direction Brad Stevens decides to take, this will be one of his most important trades. The postseason requires health and depth. Teams need to feel confident in their "insurance players," especially as they move into the deeper rounds. 

During the offseason, Boston made some big decisions with the roster. They traded away Marcus Smart. In came Porzingis and Jrue Holiday. Grant Williams also departed. Now, the expectation is to win their first championship since 2008. It might only be a marginal move, but this trade deadline matters for the Celtics. Stevens will need to hope he gets this move right, as it could make or break the team's season. 

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