Buon giorno, Herald readers. I’m again from my two-week Italian honeymoon and have some ideas on the strikes the Celtics made (and didn’t make) whereas I used to be away:
— Brad Stevens mentioned in his latest information convention on the Auerbach Middle that the phrase “rebuild” is “not going to be a part of the lexicon in (that) constructing” this season. Honest sufficient.
However nevertheless you wish to phrase it, there’s no denying that Boston’s present roster is the weakest the franchise has fielded in years.
Take into account this: In the event you embrace Jayson Tatum, who’s out indefinitely as he recovers from his ruptured Achilles, the Celtics have misplaced 4 starting-caliber gamers from their 2024-25 squad (Tatum, Jrue Vacation, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford, plus a super backup in Luke Kornet) and added only one: guard Anfernee Simons, whom they acquired from Portland in the Holiday trade (and nonetheless may offload in a subsequent deal for additional luxurious tax financial savings).
Exterior of Simons, Boston has added a good journeyman rotation participant (Georges Niang), plucked two guys from the very finish of Minnesota’s bench (Luka Garza and Josh Minott), used its first-round draft choose an intriguing however uncooked prospect who most likely received’t be prepared for a considerable position as a 19-year-old rookie (Hugo Gonzalez) and signed two second-round picks to two-way contracts (Amari Williams and Max Shulga).
The Celtics boasted the very best roster in basketball throughout their run to the 2024 NBA championship, and that very same group received 61 video games this previous season regardless of having its full beginning lineup obtainable simply 24 instances. Due to the dynasty-killing buzzsaw that’s the NBA’s second apron, that enviable depth now’s gone.
— No Celtics place has been hit tougher this summer season than middle.
Boston traded Porzingis — an understandable and expected move given his hefty wage and sturdiness issues — after which failed in their stated goal to re-sign his prime two understudies. Stevens mentioned on draft night time that the staff hoped to retain Horford and Kornet, nevertheless it whiffed on each. Kornet landed a long-awaited payday in free company (4 years, $41 million from San Antonio), and although Horford remained unsigned as of Sunday, Stevens later admitted the 39-year-old locker room chief was “unlikely” to return.
What’s left? Three veterans who weren’t on a regular basis rotation gamers this season (Neemias Queta, Xavier Tillman and newcomer Garza) and second-round rookie Williams. That is perhaps the weakest assortment of huge males within the NBA.
Queta, who initiatives as the highest choice at this early stage, made 62 appearances and 6 begins in his first season as a full-time NBA participant, however the 26-year-old was a distant fourth on the depth chart behind Porzingis, Horford and Kornet by the tip of 2024. Garza, additionally 26, performed sparingly in a crowded Timberwolves frontcourt throughout his three seasons in Minnesota, averaging simply 6.3 minutes per sport over 92 outings. The 2 mixed to play simply 32 minutes this postseason, all in rubbish time.
Tillman does have a good bit of NBA beginning expertise (60 in his five-year profession), however he was nowhere close to head coach Joe Mazzulla’s rotation this season, exiled to the tip of the bench due largely to his woeful 3-point taking pictures (15.6%). Additionally, in contrast to the 7-foot Queta and 6-foot-10 Garza, the 6-7 Tillman is extra of a 4 than a conventional middle.
Williams has some attractive traits, particularly his size and passing potential. However because the forty sixth total choose, odds are he’ll spend extra time in Maine than in Boston this season.
“We’ll have to try this by committee,” Stevens informed reporters on June 8. “That won’t be the group that folks will single out, primarily based on paper, on what they’ve carried out with their careers to this point, as our strongest place, nevertheless it’s as much as them to show it in any other case.”
The response to Boston’s first Summer season League sport on Friday underscored the dearth of confirmed expertise on this group. After former Spurs reserve Charles Bassey, added to the C’s summer season squad days earlier, had 14 factors and 11 rebounds and was a plus-20 in 18 minutes in opposition to Memphis, hypothesis shortly started over whether or not there could possibly be a spot for him on the massive membership.
— Modifications have been coming to the Celtics’ roster no matter how the 2024-25 season ended. That’s a easy reality. Nevertheless it’s laborious to not marvel how considerably Tatum’s harm altered their offseason trajectory, particularly because it pertains to Horford.
Although Horford, who’s been heavily linked to the Golden State Warriors as his free company drags on, hasn’t spoken publicly about his needs, he appears to be prioritizing an opportunity to contend for an additional title as his almost two-decade NBA profession winds down. Groups just like the Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers, who additionally have been rumored as Horford suitors final week, can supply that chance.
The Celtics, as presently constructed, can not — however they may have if Tatum was wholesome, no matter every other luxurious tax-related cuts they wanted to make this offseason.
— Stevens informed reporters he’s “comfy” coming into the season together with his staff’s present roster, however with greater than three months to go earlier than opening night time, there’s nonetheless loads of time for extra strikes.
Probably the most urgent query is whether or not Boston will make a play for Damian Lillard, who turned a free agent after being minimize by Milwaukee and clearing waivers. The Bucks nonetheless owe Lillard $112.6 million, which they stretched over the subsequent 5 seasons to clear wage cap house, that means his subsequent staff ought to have the ability to signal the nine-time All-Star level guard on a budget.
A number of studies have listed the Celtics among the suitors for Lillard. Including him can be a future-focused transfer, as Lillard additionally suffered a torn Achilles two weeks earlier than Tatum’s and is predicted to overlook most or the entire upcoming season.
The enchantment of signing Lillard is apparent: He’s lengthy been one of many NBA’s prime offensive gamers and premier 3-point threats, and he’s now obtainable at a steep low cost. The Celtics aren’t anticipated to contend this season anyway, so what’s the hurt in bringing him aboard, letting him rehab after which coming into 2026-27 with a core of Tatum, Lillard, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard?
The priority, although, is that whereas Tatum is within the prime of his profession at age 27 — and, as such, needs to be uniquely geared up to beat his Achilles harm — Lillard is eight years older. He turns 35 this week and could possibly be 36 by the point he performs his subsequent sport. There is no such thing as a precedent for an NBA star struggling Lillard’s harm at his age and persevering with to carry out on the similar degree upon his return.
If the Celtics do select to signal Lillard, they may simply clear a 15-man roster spot by releasing guard JD Davison, whose wage is non-guaranteed.
