It’s already an offseason of change for the Celtics, who predictably moved on from both Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis in separate trades in an attempt to shed salary.
Boston got Anfernee Simons and Georges Niang back in the deals, helping fill holes on their roster before free agency even begins, but upgrades are still available — and the frontcourt is where they will likely have to be made.
Not only is Jayson Tatum set to miss most or all of the 2025-26 season, but Luke Kornet and Al Horford are both unrestricted free agents after playing key roles for the Celtics this past season.
Here are the top five potential free agent targets for the Celtics, from Brook Lopez to Chris Boucher.
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Ranking best free agents for Celtics in 2025
1. Brook Lopez
2024-25 salary: $24 million
Brook Lopez is in the twilight of his career as he enters year 18, but similar to Horford, he can still have a positive impact on a contender in the right role. The 2021 NBA champion was an NBA All-Defensive selection in 2023 and continued to play well on the defensive end over the last two seasons, averaging 1.9 blocks per game in addition to 13.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in 2024-25. The Celtics wouldn’t ask Lopez to do too much offensively, but with Porzingis gone and Horford’s future uncertain, they can still hand him a sizable enough role to convince him to come to Boston.
2. Luke Kornet
2024-25 salary: $2.8 million
Brad Stevens said retaining Kornet is a priority, but as the Celtics cut down on payroll, will they be priced out on the former undrafted big man? Kornet finally earned a regular role this past season and earned himself some money with a few stellar moments against the Knicks in the playoffs. Boston has a major need in the frontcourt with Tatum out, Porzingis gone and Horford a free agent, and a multi-year deal for Kornet could give the Celtics a reliable presence and rebounder going forward.
MORE: Best free agent targets for Knicks
3. Al Horford
2024-25 salary: $9.75 million
Of course, the Celtics can just turn back to Horford in the frontcourt. That might not be the only move Boston needs to make, but Horford has proven to be an ideal fit and doesn’t seem to be out of gas just yet. The former All-Star remains a strong presence on the defensive end and will be coveted if the Celtics can’t reach a deal to bring him back, though his efficiency on the offensive end dipped this past season. With Tatum out and Porzingis out of the picture entirely, could Boston prioritize a stronger offensive presence in the frontcourt? If so, the door could still be open for Horford to return on a cheap deal and take the rest of his career year-by-year.
4. Kevon Looney
2024-25 salary: $7.5 million
Kevon Looney spent a decade with the Warriors and was a key part of Golden State’s 2017 title run that ended with an NBA Finals win over the Celtics, but he saw his role decrease in each of the last two seasons and could be ready to move on. If the Celtics are priced out on Kornet, Looney could be a target to fill the void. While he won’t contribute much as a scorer, Looney is a terrific rebounder in spurts and has averaged double-digit rebounds per 36 minutes in each of the last five seasons — including 14.6 in 2024-25.
MORE: Complete 2025 NBA Draft grades
5. Chris Boucher
2024-25 salary: $11.75 million
Another strong rebounder, Chris Boucher could be on the move for the first time in his NBA career and might be a solution to the Celtics’ frontcourt needs. While he hasn’t been as effective as a shot-blocker in recent seasons, Boucher made a larger impact on the offensive end for the Raptors in 2024-25 and has been an effective rebounder since he entered the NBA. Boucher wouldn’t be someone the Celtics could ask to play heavy minutes, but he can be plugged right into a part-time role depending on who else fills out Boston’s frontcourt.
