Pre-Draft Outlook
The Celtics were one of the best teams in the league again, despite parting ways with four of their top eight guys from 2024-25 and playing without Jayson Tatum for the first 62 games. But their streak of four straight trips to the conference semifinals came to an end when they blew a 3-1 lead to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round. Tatum and Jaylen Brown are both under contract for three more years, but the Celtics need to reconstruct their supporting cast.
The Way to Go
Brown and Tatum are capable of winning a championship together, so shopping the former isn’t necessary, though maybe there’s a trade out there that can raise the ceiling with a better complement for Tatum. Either way, the Celtics should be on the hunt for frontline depth, either in free agency or with their draft picks. Zuby Ejiofor, Koa Peat or Henri Veesaar could be options late in the first round.
— John Schuhmann
Under Contract
G/F: Jaylen Brown
G: Hugo González
G: Payton Pritchard
G: Baylor Scheierman
G: Derrick White
F: Sam Hauser
F/G: Jayson Tatum
C: Luka Garza
Free agents
G: Ron Harper Jr.
G: Max Shulga
G: John Tonje
G: Jordan Walsh
F: Dalano Banton
F: Amari Williams
C: Neemias Queta
C: Nikola Vučević