After the Celtics dealt Jaylen Brown in one of the more stunning NBA trades of the last few years, the obvious question is what comes next in Boston.
On paper, the Celtics still look dangerous. Jayson Tatum remains the headliner, the role players still give the roster real bite, and the team has enough talent to stay in the championship picture. But giving up Brown - especially for an aging Paul George - is the kind of move that invites scrutiny no matter how the front office explains it.
Now there’s a new wrinkle: Boston may not be finished making changes, and that could put the San Antonio Spurs in the mix. One report says Keldon Johnson could be on the Celtics’ radar.
“But it would, indeed, have to be an upgrade, and the Celtics are thin at power forward, with Jayson Tatum and Hauser slated to play the bulk of the minutes there, even if somewhat out of position. If the Celtics aren’t concerned about that (or if they play George at the 4), a pursuit of Keldon Johnson from San Antonio, Herbert Jones from the Pels or Lu Dort from the Thunder could be an opportunity to add a relatively young piece,” Sean Deveney wrote.
For San Antonio, Johnson is still a valuable piece. He’s a good player, and unless the Spurs get the return they truly want, moving him now doesn’t make much sense.
The Spurs may have to get creative in the coming years as the roster gets more expensive, but that’s a problem for later. Right now, keeping Johnson in place seems like the smarter play.
In Other News...
Celtics Just Sent A Clear Message About Tatums Inner Circle
Bostons decision to bring in Mike Conley Jr. says plenty about how this front office is thinking as it tries to keep the roster balanced without losing sight of the financial picture. Conley gives the Celtics a steadier backcourt option and a cleaner fit for what they want to do, while also keeping the conversation focused on practicality rather than splash.
Bradley Beals name naturally comes with more star power, but the Celtics have shown they are willing to pass on that kind of move if it complicates the cap or the rotation. It also fits a broader pattern in Boston, where Jayson Tatum has not been the driving force behind personnel calls, and this latest choice only reinforces how little room there seems to be for sentiment when the Celtics are weighing their next step. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Just Added A Familiar Problem Fans Know All Too Well
Bostons frontcourt got a lot more crowded when the Celtics brought in former Knicks center Mitch Robinson on a three-year, $47.1 million deal and then followed that by extending Neemias Queta for four years at $56 million. It is the kind of move that signals both urgency and confidence, giving Joe Mazzulla two centers with very different profiles and a roster wrinkle that should shape how Boston looks on both ends of the floor.
The bigger question now is how the Celtics sort out the minutes, because there is at least the possibility of a real starting-center battle here. Queta is already in place, Robinson arrives with a reputation that made him a problem for opponents, and Boston will spend the summer and early part of the season figuring out how much competition there really is and how comfortable each big man is with whatever role comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics May Regret Waiting On Payton Pritchard Much Longer
Payton Pritchards place in Boston is suddenly one of the more interesting contract questions on the roster. With Jaylen Brown gone, the Celtics are expected to lean more on Pritchard next season, and his mix of starter-level production and bench scoring has only sharpened the case for the team to think ahead before his price tag climbs.
Pritchard is eligible for an extension this summer, and Boston has a decision to make about whether to act now or wait and see how much larger his role becomes. The Celtics have not made any official calls on his contract or usage, but if they plan to give him more ball-handling duties and a bigger scoring load, the timing could matter more than it did a few months ago. [Read more 🡒]