The Boston Celtics were riding a high just a few months ago. After winning the 2024 NBA Championship behind Jayson Tatum’s MVP-level run and a suffocating defense, everything seemed aligned for another deep playoff run. But the 2025 postseason turned out to be brutal.
Tatum suffered a torn Achilles in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals and is expected to miss the entire 2025–26 season. Without him, Boston’s championship window has taken a massive hit, and the team’s front office hasn’t exactly eased the blow.
Jrue Holiday was traded shortly after the Finals, Kristaps Porzingis was moved to clear cap space and Georges Niang was flipped for second-rounders. Its latest addition has been Chris Boucher on a $3.3M deal — a solid role player, but far from a needle-mover.
What’s left is a roster that still features a strong backcourt, but one that feels dramatically imbalanced. Jaylen Brown and Derrick White are a top-tier defensive tandem, Payton Pritchard continues to prove his worth as a spark plug off the bench and Anfernee Simons, acquired in the Holiday trade, brings serious scoring upside.
On paper, it’s a solid perimeter group, but the problem is everything else.
Boston’s frontcourt now lacks size, rim protection and versatility. Boucher can offer hustle and weakside shot-blocking, but he’s not a true anchor. Luke Kornet and Neemias Queta have shown flashes but can’t be trusted over long stretches, especially against elite bigs.
The Celtics are trying to hold on while lowering their apron expenses, but it’s clear they’ll need some creative maneuvering to stay competitive. One option is betting on internal growth.
Simons has never been a strong defender, but Boston’s culture might bring out more from him on that end. Boucher will have to punch above his contract value. Most importantly, Brown will need to become more than a secondary star — he has to be a leader. That includes improving his decision-making, his passing under pressure and consistently taking on the toughest defensive assignments.
The good news is that Boston’s perimeter defense could still be elite. White and Brown are capable of locking down backcourts. Pritchard plays with energy and there’s hope that Simons can improve within a more disciplined system. But with no real interior presence, it’ll be relying heavily on rotations and help defense every night.
The Celtics do have some financial flexibility after clearing Porzingis and Holiday’s contracts. They might pursue a veteran, via trade, or take a flyer on a buyout candidate later in the season. But those moves won’t bring back the impact of Tatum or Porzingis. This version of Boston doesn’t have the talent to realistically win a title — but it could still be dangerous, especially if Brown embraces his role as the focal point and some of the younger players step up.
There’s also the question of what this season means long-term. Is this just a one-year setback while Tatum recovers, or is this the beginning of a transitional phase for a franchise that might need to pivot sooner than expected?
For now, the Celtics have no choice but to fight. They’ve got heart, playoff experience and one of the best defensive backcourts in the league. That won’t be enough to repeat as champions, but it might keep them in the mix. If they can grind out a playoff spot and stay competitive, that alone would be a victory.
Still, the margin for error is razor-thin — and if things go sideways early, Boston could find itself facing much bigger questions than just how to survive one season without Tatum.
