The Celtics’ offseason work in Los Angeles may not decide anything by itself, but it does tell you plenty about where this group is headed.
Jayson Tatum, Paul George, Payton Pritchard, Mike Conley, Sam Hauser, Chris Cenac Jr., Dillon Mitchell, and others have all been getting in voluntary workouts ahead of training camp, and the images and videos from those sessions have given fans a real look at a group spending time together on purpose. The drills themselves are nothing flashy - the kind of half-speed layups and empty-gym reps you see every summer - but the point isn’t the highlights.
What stands out is the sense that this is a different chapter for Boston. Tatum, in particular, appears to be stepping into a leadership role in a more visible way, bringing younger players along and helping set the tone for everyone else. That kind of buy-in matters, especially when it’s happening before camp even opens.
There have been plenty of Celtics offseason updates over the years, but not many that have shown this level of togetherness from the whole group. Some of that is simply the reality of the NBA offseason.
Guys have their own schedules, obligations, and lives. Tatum spent all of last summer rehabbing a serious injury, and before that he had years of Team USA duty.
Still, seeing this group together now gives off a different vibe. It suggests chemistry is being built early, habits are being formed, and a natural hierarchy is starting to take shape. Even if the importance gets exaggerated a bit, it’s still the kind of thing fans can latch onto.
And Celtics fans are absolutely looking for reasons to believe. After the way the last two seasons ended, plus the roster changes that came with them, the appetite for signs of focus and urgency is obvious. These workouts don’t fix anything on their own, but they do show a team trying to get aligned weeks before preseason begins.
Will it be the deciding factor in whether Boston wins a championship? Probably not. But with the league getting tighter and every edge mattering more, the Celtics are clearly doing what they can to stack small advantages before the season starts.
In Other News...
Derrick White Suddenly Feels Less Safe In Bostons Core
Derrick White has long looked like one of the safer pieces in Bostons core, the kind of player who fits almost anywhere because of his defense, decision-making and steady all-around game. Sports Illustrateds John Karalis recently underscored that point while also noting the tension around the Celtics cap situation, where even dependable contributors can become complicated fast when the financial picture tightens.
Whites recent shooting has added another layer to the conversation, since a swing in performance can change how a team views a player whose value is built on balance rather than volume scoring. None of that means Boston is preparing to move him, but it does make his roster security feel a little less automatic than it once did, especially with the Celtics already navigating a squeezed financial outlook. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Trade Return Rides On One Complicated Pick Twist
The Celtics return for Jaylen Brown is straightforward on the surface: Paul George, two first-rounders and two second-round picks from Philadelphia. But buried in the package is the kind of draft-night accounting that can shape a franchise years down the line, including an unprotected 2031 pick from the 76ers and a protected 2028 first from the Clippers that comes wrapped in swap rights and layered protections involving Boston and San Antonio.
For the Celtics, the second-round pieces add a little more value to the haul, too. They come in 2028 and 2030 and are structured as the most favorable of several teams selections, which is the sort of detail that can look minor now and matter later when front offices are hunting for flexibility. The headline of the deal is the star-for-star swap, but the real long-term intrigue sits in how those picks eventually shake out. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Just Got A New Eastern Conference Threat To Worry About
The Eastern Conference picture may be about to get a lot more complicated for Boston. With the NBA punishing the Clippers over the Kawhi Leonard trade, the path has opened for Leonard to return to the Toronto Raptors, and ESPNs Shams Charania reports the deal is expected to be finalized in the next few days. For a Celtics team already measuring itself against the conferences best, the timing matters.
Toronto with Leonard back in the fold is a very different problem than Toronto without him. Even with the obvious questions about his health and durability, his arrival would be viewed as a major upgrade and would put another proven playoff force back in Bostons lane. The Celtics do not need more contenders making the road harder, but this one has the kind of star power that can change the balance in the East quickly. [Read more 🡒]