The Celtics will use four preseason games to start sorting out a roster that looks very different after a busy offseason.
Boston’s biggest move sent former NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia in a blockbuster deal that brought back nine-time All-Star Paul George. The Celtics also added veteran guard Mike Conley Jr. and center Mitchell Robinson, giving the group a fresh mix of established names and new pieces to blend before the games count.
That means the preseason should carry real value for a team trying to build chemistry quickly. Jayson Tatum, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard are still in the mix, so there’s enough continuity to go with the new arrivals. The result is a preseason slate that should give Celtics fans a first look at how all of it fits together.
Boston opens preseason play Oct. 8 at the Cavaliers at 7 p.m. ET.
The Celtics then host the 76ers on Oct. 10 at 8 p.m. ET, welcome the Hornets on Oct. 14 at 7:30 p.m.
ET and finish the exhibition schedule at the 76ers on Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. ET.
All four games will air on NBC Sports Boston and stream on DIRECTV.
The Celtics will then move into the regular season with a first 10-game stretch that begins Oct. 20 at the Pistons at 3 p.m. ET. Boston’s early schedule also includes home games against the Knicks, Bulls, Nets and Bucks, plus road matchups at the Magic, Rockets, Hornets and Bucks.
Boston’s training camp roster also offers a clear look at the group available for the preseason run. Along with Tatum, White, Pritchard, George, Conley Jr. and Robinson, the roster includes Devin Carter, Chris Cenac Jr., Tucker DeVries, Luka Garza, Hugo Gonzalez, Hayden Gray, Ron Harper Jr., Sam Hauser, Gabe McGlothan, Dillon Mitchell*, Neemias Queta, Baylor Scheierman, Milos Uzan, Jordan Walsh and Amari Williams*. Dillon Mitchell and Amari Williams are on two-way contracts.
In Other News...
Mitchell Robinson Is Already Stirring Emotions Beyond Boston
Mitchell Robinsons move to Boston has already sent a ripple through the rest of the East, especially in New York, where the Celtics latest big-man addition now has to be processed as both a loss and a new challenge. Boston brought Robinson in on a three-year, $47.4 million deal after his role in helping the Knicks win the NBA Championship, making him one of the more notable changes to a roster that keeps trying to stay in the title mix.
The Knicks answered by bringing in veteran Andre Drummond on a one-year deal, a move aimed at filling the gap while keeping the frontcourt steady. Former Knicks teammates have sounded split on Robinsons exit, with some still feeling the sting of losing him and others taking a hopeful view of Drummonds arrival, which only adds another layer to a transaction that already carries more emotion than a typical free-agent signing. [Read more 🡒]
Paul George Just Became A Real Celtics Decision Point
Paul George has become one of those names that can linger around a roster long after the obvious offseason chatter has moved on. An Eastern Conference executive recently suggested the Celtics could still find real trade value in him if he is healthy, which is notable given the contract and the long view Boston has to take with every major move. His deal still carries two years of salary commitment, so any discussion around him is as much about flexibility and timing as it is about talent.
The health piece is where the conversation gets complicated. George has played limited games in recent seasons, and Boston has not signaled any desire to move him, but that kind of uncertainty always changes how teams evaluate a players market. If he can stay on the floor, the Celtics may at least have a meaningful decision to make, especially if the return resembles the kind of protected first-round pick an executive believes is still possible. [Read more 🡒]
LeBron Just Sent Celtics Fans A Clear Jaylen Brown Warning
Jaylen Browns move from Boston to Philadelphia already carried plenty of weight, but LeBron James added another layer to the conversation during media day while talking about his new 76ers teammates. James described Brown as motivated, which is the sort of word Celtics fans know can mean trouble when a player with Browns talent arrives with something to prove.
Brown was traded away from Boston in the offseason after a strong previous season, and the switch to a new contender only raises the stakes for what comes next. James has also gone out of his way to defend Brown before, calling him misunderstood on his podcast, so the Celtics are left watching a familiar kind of warning sign: a star who feels overlooked, lands in a new spot, and may be ready to make that decision look costly. [Read more 🡒]