Boston’s front office has made clear that adding a stronger rim presence is a priority after the season ended. While the Celtics’ ultimate goal remains landing Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, the club is already evaluating alternatives that fit the team’s recent blueprint of stretch bigs. One name that consistently surfaces is Atlanta’s Onyeka Okokwu, a forward who could provide the floor-spacing and interior scoring the Celtics have been chasing.

Okokwu logged a career-high 63 starts last season and posted a career-high 15.2 points per game. He also expanded his perimeter game, attempting a career-high 5.6 three-point shots per contest and shooting 37.6 percent from beyond the arc. Those numbers align with the type of big men Boston has prized in its recent championship runs , players who can pull defenders out of the paint and create driving lanes for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Although he does not possess the dominant athleticism of Antetokounmpo, Okokwu’s skill set is arguably a closer match to the Celtics’ preferred style of play.

The contract situation further sweetens the fit. Okokwu is under a four-year, $61.9 million extension he signed in 2023, with two years remaining on that deal. That provides Boston with a cost-controlled, multi-year option rather than a short-term rental, a factor that has guided previous roster moves such as the trades involving Robert Williams III and Marcus Smart. By adding a stretch big on a manageable contract, the Celtics could address a lingering weakness without sacrificing long-term flexibility.

From a strategic standpoint, the pursuit underscores Boston’s willingness to retool the core if necessary. Brad Stevens has repeatedly emphasized the need to “add to our team” and to generate a bigger impact at the rim. Okokwu’s ability to space the floor and finish inside offers a tangible way to meet those directives, even if the Giannis pursuit ultimately proves unsuccessful.

With the Giannis scenario still in flux, the Celtics will continue to assess alternatives throughout the offseason. Okokwu stands out as a realistic Plan B, providing a blend of shooting, interior scoring, and contractual stability that fits the franchise’s current direction. The coming weeks will reveal how aggressively Boston pushes this option and what ripple effects it may have on the broader roster construction.