The Celtics weren’t supposed to be in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race this season. When Jayson Tatum went down with an Achilles tear during last year’s playoff series against the Knicks, the prevailing thought was simple: Boston would be without its franchise cornerstone for the entire 2025-26 campaign.
That injury didn’t just sideline a superstar - it reshaped the team’s entire outlook. General manager Brad Stevens took the opportunity to trim salary and recalibrate the roster.
Expectations were modest. A .500 season?
Respectable. A deep playoff run?
Unlikely.
But here we are in late December, and the Celtics have flipped the script.
Fresh off a win over the Miami Heat, Boston now sits fourth in the Eastern Conference, just half a game behind the third-place Raptors and two-and-a-half back of the Knicks in second. Not bad for a team that was expected to tread water without its best player. And now, with whispers growing louder about Tatum’s rehab progress - and the possibility of a return before season’s end - the Celtics are suddenly a team to watch.
Let’s be clear: this team didn’t stumble into its current position. Jaylen Brown has taken the reins and then some, averaging 29.3 points per game and showing the kind of offensive consistency that puts him firmly in All-NBA territory.
Derrick White has been rock solid, doing exactly what the Celtics needed from him - steady playmaking, reliable defense, and timely buckets. These two were always going to be at the heart of Boston’s attack with Tatum out, and they’ve delivered.
But what’s really pushed Boston into the playoff conversation is the production from the rest of the roster - particularly Payton Pritchard. The sharpshooting guard has become a legitimate offensive threat, averaging 16.4 points per game and showing a knack for hitting big shots late in games.
His ability to stretch the floor and create space has been critical, and at this point, calling him “underrated” might be a stretch. Around the league, people are taking notice.
Then there are the surprises - the kind of internal development that turns a good team into a dangerous one. Neemias Queta, the 7-footer, has carved out a real role in the frontcourt.
He’s averaging 9.9 points and 8.0 rebounds while shooting a blistering 65.1% from the field. More than just a finisher, Queta’s also showing some feel as a passer, sporting a 2.1-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
That’s a rare level of efficiency for a big man still finding his way in the league.
Jordan Walsh, meanwhile, has emerged as a high-energy spark plug off the bench. The rookie guard is averaging 7.6 points in just over 21 minutes per game, but his impact goes beyond the box score.
He’s been a relentless defender, pulling down 5.1 rebounds and swiping 1.2 steals per game. His hustle has become contagious, and he’s quickly earning trust in Mazzulla’s rotation.
And now, the Tatum factor looms.
There’s no rush - Stevens made that clear. “Obviously, he’s itching to play,” Stevens said.
“Obviously he hates watching. But he’s also very cognizant of the need to meet every threshold.”
That’s the right approach. Rushing back a star from an Achilles injury is never worth the risk.
But the fact that Tatum is even in the conversation for a return this season? That’s a massive development.
If he does come back - and that’s still a big “if” - Boston could be one piece away from making real noise in the playoffs. That’s where Nikola Vucevic enters the picture.
The 35-year-old center is still producing at a high level, averaging 16.1 points and 9.3 rebounds for a Bulls team that’s trending in the wrong direction. Chicago has slipped to 10th in the East with a 12-15 record, and with a youth movement underway - think Coby White, Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis - Vucevic no longer fits the long-term plan.
For Boston, he could be the perfect short-term rental. He’s a skilled big who can stretch the floor, hit mid-range jumpers, and make plays in the post.
He’s also one of the few veterans on the market who can be trusted in crunch time - someone who won’t shy away from a big shot. The Celtics wouldn’t need to give up much, either.
A couple of second-round picks and a role player like Josh Minott could be enough to get it done, especially if Chicago is willing to eat part of Vucevic’s $21.4 million salary.
This wouldn’t be a long-term move - Vucevic is a free agent after the season - but it could be the kind of calculated swing that gives Boston a real shot at a deep playoff run. Pairing a healthy Tatum with Brown, White, Pritchard, and a frontcourt rotation that includes Vucevic and Queta? That’s a group that can hang with anyone in the East.
Back in May, when Tatum crumpled to the floor at Madison Square Garden, the Celtics' 2025-26 season looked like a write-off. Now, with a winning record, rising young contributors, and a potential trade chip on the table, Boston is positioned to make a run that nobody saw coming.
And if Tatum returns? All bets are off.