Celtics’ Holiday Wish List: Three Key Gifts Boston Needs to Stay in the Hunt
The holidays are here, and while most folks are focused on last-minute gifts and Christmas cookies, Celtics fans are eyeing a different kind of wish list-one that could shape Boston’s playoff destiny.
After a rocky start to the season, the Celtics have found their footing. Now sitting at 18-11 and holding the No. 3 seed in the East, they’ve climbed past expectations in a conference that’s as competitive as ever.
The only teams ahead of them right now? The red-hot Pistons (24-6) and the surging Knicks (20-9)-both of whom Boston has already beaten during this stretch.
And they’ve done it with a completely retooled roster and without their franchise cornerstone, Jayson Tatum, who’s been sidelined for much of the season. With veterans like Al Horford, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Luke Kornet no longer in the mix, the Celtics were expected to hover around the Play-In line, not push for a top-three seed.
But here we are, 29 games in, and Boston looks like a team that’s just a few roster tweaks away from making a legitimate run at the Eastern Conference Finals.
So what’s on the Celtics’ wish list this Christmas? Let’s break it down.
1. A Healthy Jayson Tatum
This one’s obvious-but it’s also the most important.
A month ago, the idea of Tatum returning this season felt more like wishful thinking than a realistic scenario. But recent developments have shifted that narrative in a big way.
First, Celtics president Brad Stevens made it clear that the team is keeping its financial options open in case Tatum is ready to return. Speaking with the media, Stevens said, “He’s not going to be back until he’s 110% healthy and he feels good about it.” That’s not just GM-speak-it’s a sign that the door is open, and the team is preparing for the possibility.
Then there’s Chris Haynes, who reported on his SiriusXM NBA Radio show that Tatum told him directly he plans to be back this season. While the clip itself is behind a paywall, the message is out there-and it’s encouraging.
Make no mistake: this Celtics team is good. Jaylen Brown is playing like a man on a mission, putting up MVP-caliber performances on a nightly basis.
But getting Tatum back would elevate this group to a whole different level. Yes, reintegrating a superstar midseason comes with its own set of challenges-but that’s a “problem” Boston would gladly welcome.
If Tatum returns at full strength, the Celtics go from a tough out to a legitimate title contender.
2. Frontcourt Reinforcements
Boston’s frontcourt depth has been a concern all season-and it’s not going away anytime soon.
When Neemias Queta turned his ankle earlier in the year, it exposed just how thin the Celtics are up front. Losing Horford, Porzingis, and Kornet over the offseason left a massive hole in the middle, and while the team has tried to patch it up, the results have been mixed.
Luka Garza has shown flashes, but his defensive limitations make it tough to trust him in high-leverage moments. Chris Boucher, once a reliable bench piece in Toronto, has been largely invisible.
Jordan Walsh and Josh Minott are promising young wings, but they’re not built to bang down low. And while Amari Williams made his debut in Game 18, he’s still a project-not someone you can count on in a playoff series.
The Celtics are winning games, yes. But they’re doing it while often getting beat on the boards.
That’s a red flag for any team with postseason aspirations. Rebounding and rim protection don’t just matter in the playoffs-they often decide games.
Boston doesn’t need to swing for the fences with a blockbuster trade. They don’t need to chase a superstar. But they do need to get creative-whether that’s through a midseason trade, the buyout market, or even a G League call-up with a higher ceiling.
The Celtics have the perimeter talent. They have the coaching. What they need now is some muscle in the paint.
3. Continued Growth from the Young Wings
If there’s been a silver lining to all the early-season adversity, it’s been the emergence of Boston’s young wings-most notably Jordan Walsh and rookie Hugo Gonzalez.
Let’s start with Walsh. Just a few months ago, he was on the bubble.
There were real conversations about whether he’d even make the final roster. Now?
He’s become Boston’s best perimeter defender and an efficient offensive weapon. He’s earned Joe Mazzulla’s trust in crunch time, and that’s not something the Celtics coaching staff gives out lightly.
Then there’s Gonzalez, who’s been a revelation. The 19-year-old logged a career-high 37 minutes in Boston’s comeback win over Indiana earlier this week, and he didn’t just hold his own-he thrived.
He’s leading all NBA rookies in net rating and continues to get better every time he steps on the floor. His energy, hustle, and basketball IQ have made him a fan favorite and a key part of the rotation.
Head coach Joe Mazzulla summed it up well after Monday’s win: “82 games is a long time... We need everybody to be able to do it.”
He’s right. And right now, it’s not just Walsh and Gonzalez stepping up. Luka Garza and Anfernee Simons have also had strong moments off the bench, giving this team some much-needed depth.
If Boston’s young players can keep developing at this rate, the Celtics will head into the postseason with one of the deeper, more versatile rosters in the league.
And if Tatum returns? Look out.
Bottom Line
The Celtics have already overachieved based on preseason expectations. But that doesn’t mean they should stop pushing forward. A healthy Tatum, some help in the frontcourt, and continued growth from their young core could turn this team from a feel-good story into a serious contender.
It’s not about flashy moves or headline-grabbing trades. It’s about smart, strategic decisions-and a little bit of holiday luck.
If Boston gets what’s on its wish list, they won’t just be celebrating Christmas. They’ll be playing deep into the spring.