Celtics unlikely to make major deal before NBA trade deadline Thursday

There are holes to fill on the roster, and Danny Ainge could strengthen his bench before 3 p.m. on Thursday.

BOSTON – The NBA trade deadline quietly passed for the Celtics in each of the past four Februarys.

The only deal that president of basketball operations Danny Ainge made from 2016-19 was sending Jabari Bird, who was not with the team due to domestic violence charges, and cash to the Atlanta Hawks for a protected second-round draft pick.

Other than that, the Celtics have stood pat. Their last busy trade deadline day came in 2015, when Isaiah Thomas was acquired from the Phoenix Suns and Jonas Jerebko and Gigi Datome were brought in from the Detroit Pistons.

The 2020 trade deadline is Thursday at 3 p.m., and the Celtics are, as usual, in the middle of all sorts of rumors making the rounds.

They have reportedly inquired about 6-foot-10 center Clint Capela of the Houston Rockets and also looking for veteran help on the bench.

Appearing on NBC Sports Boston earlier this week, Ainge said, “We don’t want to make a deal just to make a deal.’’ There are definite needs for the Celitcs, but a blockbuster doesn’t look like it is in the cards.

The Celtics (34-15) are tied for third place in the Eastern Conference with the Miami Heat, 1 1-2 games behind the second-place Toronto Raptors (36-14).

Winners of four straight games and seven of the last eight, the Celtics will be at TD Garden Wednesday night to meet the Orlando Magic (7:35 p.m., TV: ESPN and NBC Sports Boston; radio: WROR-105.7 FM).

Daniel Theis, who was injured in Monday’s win over the Hawks in Atlanta, will not play against the Magic due to a right ankle sprain.

That means Enes Kanter, who just returned from a right hip contusion, will be the starter with Grant Williams and Vincent Poirier as his backups.

Kemba Walker (left knee soreness), who missed the past two games, and Marcus Smart (right quad contusion), who did not play in Atlanta, are listed as questionable. Gordon Hayward (right calf contusion) is probably.

There was a question mark entering the season about the center spot following the departures of Al Horford and Aron Baynes, but Theis and Kanter have done solid jobs. Robert Williams was supposed to be in the mix, but he has played only 19 games due to injuries.

“We’re not getting beat at the center position,’’ Ainge told NBC Sports Boston. “We’re getting 17, 18 points per night. We’re getting double figures (in) rebounds). We’re just doing it as a team.’’

The Celtics have had trouble getting their five top players – Walker, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Hayward and Smart – together. Injuries and illnesses have resulted in them missing a combined 45 games.

That has moved players up the depth chart, and the second unit is young. Seven players on the roster, including Williams, are either rookies or in their second year in the NBA.

“I think our No. 1 need is health,’’ said Ainge. “I think we’re going to look to strengthen the end of our bench. We like all of our guys. We do have probably too many really young guys.’’

It doesn’t appear likely than any of those leading five players will be traded this week, so any deal would probably be in the minor category. The Celtics can offer draft picks since they will probably have three first-rounders in June – their own, the Milwaukee Bucks’ choice and the Memphis Grizzlies selection, if it is not in the top six.

Coach Brad Stevens has gone with a shorter rotation in recent games, playing as few as eight players for a majority of the time against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers.

That should be the case as the playoffs approach in April with Walker, Tatum, Brown, Hayward, Smart, Theis, Kanter and one or two others getting prime minutes.

The Celtics, as constructed right now, could probably advance to the Eastern Conference finals should the pairings break their way. The Bucks, who are running away with the conference, would pose a major obstacle for the Celtics and everyone else in the East.

The Raptors, Heat, Celtics, Indiana Pacers and the underachieving 76ers figure to be in the hunt to match up with the Bucks in the conference final. The size of the Sixers, who have been a disappointment, could give the Celtics trouble should they be matched up in the spring.

The Celtics play two games in a row at home this week, facing the Hawks again on Friday night, before traveling to Oklahoma City to go against the Thunder Sunday afternoon and Houston to play the Rockets Tuesday night.

Jim Fenton may be reached at jfenton@enterprisenews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JFenton_ent.