The championship banner still hangs in the rafters, but everything else about the Boston Celtics has changed. Just months after capturing their 18th NBA title, the defending champions find themselves gutted by injuries, salary cap moves, and a playoff collapse that nobody saw coming. With their core scattered and superstar sidelined, Boston might be looking backward to move forward.
Why Did the Celtics’ Championship Defense Fall Apart So Quickly?
It has been a rough couple of months for Boston. The 2023-2024 NBA Champions entered the 2025 postseason as the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference once again, and many predicted them to capture their second straight NBA title.
After disposing of the Orlando Magic in five games in the first round, it looked like that may have been the case. Instead, it was a struggle for the Celtics as they blew multiple leads in their second-round series against the New York Knicks, eventually losing in six games, with Game 6 ending with 119-81.
To add to the misery, superstar Jayson Tatum suffered a torn Achilles in Game 5. Although there have been some positive updates regarding his condition, there’s a good chance he will miss the 2025-26 season. The Celtics, seeing their short-term window close, decided to save some money.
Despite all of the losses, the Celtics may still add some key pieces, and one former Celtic has been rumored to potentially return.
Could Marcus Smart Return to Boston After His Washington Stint?
Jake Weinbach said the Celtics may be interested in a reunion with point guard Marcus Smart.
“A potential reunion between Marcus Smart and the Celtics would not be off the table,” Weinbach reports. “The Wizards, who now carry 17 players on the active roster, are expected to offload key veterans to make room for younger assets and would reportedly prefer to send Smart to a desired location,” he wrote on an X post.
A potential reunion between Marcus Smart and the Celtics would not be off the table.
The Wizards, who now carry 17 players on the active roster, are expected to offload key veterans to make room for younger assets and would reportedly prefer to send Smart to a desired location.
— Jake Weinbach (@JWeinbachNBA) July 10, 2025
It would make sense for the Wizards to cut bait with Smart as they continue to add talent and youth, including the No. 6 overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, Tre Johnson, and the 21st-overall selection in Illinois forward Will Riley.
Smart signed a four-year, $76,487,996 contract with the Celtics before the 2022-23 season, meaning he is entering the last year of his deal. Although he is set to make $21,586,856 next season, he wouldn’t be owed any money beyond then.
Smart, a fan-favorite in Boston because of his hard-nosed play, which helped him win the ‘Defensive Player of the Year Award’ in 2022, was dealt to the Memphis Grizzlies in a three-team deal that sent Porzingis to the Celtics and current Magic guard Tyus Jones to the Wizards.
Later, Smart, Colby Jones, and Alex Len were dealt to the Wizards for Johnny Davis, Marvin Bagley III, and a 2025 second-round pick, while Jake LaRavia, a recent signing of the Los Angeles Lakers, was dealt to the Sacramento Kings in the deal.
With Holiday now in Portland, the Celtics certainly need a point guard. Bringing a popular player like Smart back to Boston would certainly please the fans, at least temporarily.
Smart was the sixth-overall pick of the Celtics in the 2014 NBA Draft. He averaged 9.0 points, 3.2 assists, and 2.1 rebounds per game in the 2024-25 season.
