The Boston Celtics enter the next three years with more questions than polish, at least in the eyes of The Sporting News’ Stephen Noh.
Noh slotted Boston at No. 11 in his ranking of the teams he thinks will have the brightest futures three years from now, giving the Celtics a B+ for their assets after the offseason settled down. His read is built around one major variable: Jayson Tatum.
“How good the Celtics are depends on how much Tatum still has left in the tank at age 31 and post-Achilles tear,” writes Noh. “He will be making a massive $71.4 million, eating up 37 percent of their cap. He should still be an All-Star, but Boston will need to make the right moves to build around him.
“The Celtics should have the willingness to spend after ducking the luxury tax for several years. They'll have a first-round pick in every draft, including a juicy one in 2028 from the Clippers or Sixers.”
Noh’s projection has Tatum, Hugo Gonzalez, Neemias Queta, Jordan Walsh and Chris Cenac still in Boston three years from now. He expects Paul George to be gone by then, while Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Mitchell Robinson and Ron Harper Jr. are listed as maybes.
The 10 teams ahead of the Celtics, in order, are the San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Lakers, Detroit Pistons, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, Atlanta Hawks, Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks.
Among that group, only the Spurs, Thunder and Jazz received a better asset grade than Boston’s B+. The Spurs were given an A, the Thunder an A-, and the Jazz an A.
One other note from Noh’s rankings: the Philadelphia 76ers, who acquired Jaylen Brown from the Celtics this offseason, came in at No. 14.
In Other News...
Joe Mazzulla Is Setting A New Tone As Celtics Adjust
Joe Mazzulla has been making the rounds in a way that suggests the Celtics new season is already being shaped well before camp opens. The Boston coach recently traveled to Luka Garzas offseason camp in Indianola, Iowa, a showing of support that fits with the more hands-on tone Mazzulla has tried to set as the team adjusts to life after the trade of Jaylen Brown.
Garza said he was intrigued enough by a viral clip of Mazzulla working out with Jayson Tatum to want in on the boxing sessions himself, another small sign of how the coach is building buy-in across the roster. For a Celtics team entering a different kind of reset, those offseason connections may matter as much as any drill or film session when the season starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Derrick White Just Spotlighted A Real Celtics Offensive Dilemma
Derrick Whites season offered a pretty clear snapshot of what the Celtics were dealing with when Jayson Tatum was out: White had to shoulder more offensive creation, and the fit wasnt as smooth as it usually is. HoopsHypes Frank Urbina still slotted White among the NBAs better point guards entering next season, but the bigger takeaway for Boston was how much Whites efficiency dipped when the burden on him shifted away from his usual rhythm.
Even with the shotmaking wobble, White remained a major two-way piece for the Celtics, which is why the return of Tatum matters so much for his outlook. Boston can put White back in a more balanced role, letting him lean into the defensive impact and secondary playmaking that make him so valuable while taking some of the scoring pressure off his plate. [Read more 🡒]
Payton Pritchard Just Framed What Bostons New Veterans Could Change
Payton Pritchard had a clear read on what Boston added this offseason when he spoke at Brian Scalabrines training facility, and it sounded like a player who has already started thinking about how the pieces fit. He pointed to Paul George as the kind of addition that can change the feel of a roster, while also emphasizing the steadier, quieter value Mike Conley can bring through his veteran experience and the guidance that comes with it.
Pritchard also singled out Mitchell Robinson for the impact he can make around the rim, especially on the boards and defensively. For a Celtics group trying to blend established talent with roles that still need defining, the appeal is obvious: the new names are not just about scoring, but about adding different layers of presence, poise and toughness to the lineup. [Read more 🡒]