The Boston Celtics were one of the big winners of the 2022 NBA trade deadline. Executing trades that netted them Derrick White and Daniel Theis in exchange for a collection of Josh Richardson, a first-round pick and seldom-used players was a masterstroke. They are now on a seven-game winning streak and have won nine of their last 10 games.

The Celtics' current run has been a godsend. The defensive identity brought in by first-year head coach Ime Udoka that previously held them back is now allowing them to thrive. Their offense is showing steady improvement. White meshed beautifully with the team in his debut, a 108-102 win over the Denver Nuggets. Theis, a former Celtic, should mesh well with the team, too.

There aren't too many reasons to complain bout what the Celtics did at the trade deadline. However, there is something somewhat important that they failed to do. One key position that Boston didn't address was their backup forward spots. Although their inability to land bench upgrades isn't a terrible sin, it's something they need to fix as soon as possible before the playoff race really heats up.

Celtics’ biggest mistake at the 2022 NBA Trade Deadline

Although the Celtics would be right to make the White trade 10 times out of 10 chances, there was a catch to it. They sent two of their key backup forwards, Richardson and Romeo Langford, to the Spurs in exchange for White. The 27-year-old's talents are undeniably worth what Boston gave up for him, even if it created a hole in their rotation.

Behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics only have Aaron Nesmith and Sam Hauser, two unproven young players. Both of them have the potential to contribute as shooters off the bench but not much else. If you combine their stats for the season, you wouldn't even get to 5.0 points per game. It's clear that Boston needs other options.

The good news is that the buyout market should be filled with decent wing options. DeAndre' Bembry, a reliable defender who is posting the best shooting season of his career, would be a good fit. Potential buyout candidates like Gary Harris and Ben McLemore would also be solid additions.

The Celtics will surely see competition in the buyout market from other playoff teams. They are one of the hottest teams in the league right now but are still just seventh in the Eastern Conference. They don't have the draw of a championship-level team, which will likely impact their ability to land a veteran looking for one more shot at a title.

However, the Celtics' dearth of wings does offer them an advantage. They can offer bought-out players the chance to play a key role. On other teams whose depth is in better shape, free agents may not be interested in merely the chance to get significant playing time. For a player like Harris who is used to being a full-time starter, that could be a meaningful offer. Even for a player who has long been a backup like McLemore or E'Twaun Moore, a prominent bench role on a team hitting its stride could be enticing.

The Celtics could also take a big roll of the dice and let Nesmith and Hauser develop into more reliable players. But for a team with legitimate playoff aspirations, this likely won't fly.