The Celtics are heading into the 2026-27 season with a starting five that looks nothing like the one from a year ago. Jaylen Brown is out, Paul George is in, and the ripple effect stretches across the entire lineup. Jayson Tatum is set to return after missing most of last season, Derrick White remains the steady two-way guard in the backcourt, and Neemias Queta suddenly looks like one of the more interesting frontcourt pieces on the roster.
That mix gives Boston a lineup with plenty of scoring punch and enough spacing to make the numbers pop. Payton Pritchard is expected to come off the bench as arguably the best Sixth Man in the NBA, while Sam Hauser gives the Celtics the shooting they need around their stars. George, meanwhile, lands in what looks like the best situation he has had since his Los Angeles days.
At point guard, White is projected to stay in his familiar lane as the calming force. The expectation is 16.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.0 blocks, 2.0 turnovers and 32.8 minutes per game, with shooting splits of 45.6% from the field, 37.8% from three and 89.8% at the line.
He already delivered 16.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.3 blocks per game while playing all 77 games last season, and he also earned All-Defensive First Team honors. With Brown gone, White should still find ways to score, but George and Tatum are expected to take on most of the extra shot creation.
Hauser slots in at shooting guard with a straightforward assignment: keep firing. He’s projected for 11.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.4 blocks and 0.8 turnovers in 27.0 minutes per game, along with 45.7% shooting, 40.2% from deep and 85.7% at the stripe.
Last season, he averaged 9.2 points in 24.8 minutes and hit 39.3% of his threes while taking 6.5 per game. With Tatum and George soaking up attention, Hauser should get clean looks all season long.
George is the headline addition, and his projection reflects how central he could be to this group. He’s pegged for 19.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.4 blocks and 2.3 turnovers in 31.4 minutes per game, with shooting marks of 45.8% from the floor, 37.9% from three and 86.9% at the line.
He comes in after averaging 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.4 blocks last season while shooting 39.2% from deep. Boston didn’t add him just to replace Brown’s minutes; the Celtics want his shot creation, his shooting and his veteran presence to help reshape the offense.
Then there’s Tatum, who remains the engine. The projection gives him 27.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.7 blocks and 2.8 turnovers in 34.6 minutes per game, with a 46.7% field-goal mark, 37.4% from three and 83.5% at the line.
He played only 16 games last season, but still posted 21.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.2 blocks in those outings. With George beside him, Tatum should have a little more room to work and less of the burden of forcing late-clock shots.
In the middle, Queta may be the biggest wild card in the starting group, but his production last season earned him this chance. The projection has him at 11.2 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.5 blocks and 1.2 turnovers in 27.1 minutes per game, while shooting 65.8% from the field and 70.1% from the line.
He started 75 of 76 games in 2025-26 and averaged 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks, all while shooting 65.3% from the floor. With Boston’s perimeter stars drawing defenders, Queta should keep finding chances at the rim and on the offensive glass.
There’s also a clear theme running through this group: the Celtics have enough shot-making around Tatum to make every starter’s numbers interesting. White can play his steady all-around role, Hauser can live off spacing, George can pick his spots as the second scorer, Tatum can take back the lead role, and Queta can feast on the leftovers inside.
In Other News...
Celtics Add Another Developmental Lottery Ticket To A Crowded Camp Battle
The Celtics kept building out their training camp ledger by adding Gabe McGlothan on a training camp contract, another name in a group of Exhibit 10 players all trying to make an impression before the season gets moving. McGlothan comes to Boston after time with the Indiana Pacers organization and the Noblesville Boom in the G League, and the path ahead looks familiar for a player in this part of the roster-building process.
He now joins a crowded competition that already includes Devin Carter, Milos Uzan, Tucker DeVries, Caleb Grill, Hank Morgan and Hayden Gray on similar deals. For Boston, the real significance is less about the immediate roster math than the depth of the camp and the extra options it gives Maine, where McGlothan is expected to compete for a spot. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Can Afford To Be Patient With This Center Decision
The Celtics have built enough flexibility into the front of their rotation that they do not need to rush a center decision. Neemias Queta can stay in the first unit for now, while Mitchell Robinson remains a live option if Boston wants a different look. The appeal of Robinson is obvious: his size and activity on the offensive glass could give the Celtics a harder edge around the rim and create extra possessions.
What makes the situation manageable is that Boston has enough depth in that area to absorb different approaches, and Joe Mazzulla can adjust the lineup if the matchup calls for it. Robinson also does not have to be locked into a role that invites easy counters, since the Celtics' rebounding support could lessen any temptation for opponents to lean on hack-a-Robinson tactics. For now, the choice looks less like an urgent call and more like a chess piece Boston can move when the moment is right. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Fans Have A New Neemias Queta Disrespect Debate
HoopsHypes latest ranking of the NBAs top centers has given Celtics fans a fresh gripe to chew on, and it revolves around Neemias Queta being left out entirely. The omission stands out because the piece makes the case that Quetas work last season, including stretches as a starter for Boston, should have put him in the conversation thanks to his defensive impact and efficient scoring around the rim.
The frustration only grows when the list is weighed against who did make the cut, with Celtics center Mitchell Robinson included while Queta was not. For Boston, it is the kind of snub that feels bigger than a single ranking, because it touches on how Quetas role and value are being viewed around the league after a season in which he earned real minutes and made them count. [Read more 🡒]