If an NBA season was a theme park, the Boston Celtics‘ 2025-26 would be its curler coaster.
As they entered the season, some pundits — myself included — questioned aloud if it’d be higher to tank in hopes of securing a excessive draft decide for subsequent season, when presumably Jayson Tatum would be again from an Achilles tear.
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(We’ll get again to Tatum shortly.)
Instead, the Celtics flourished below Jaylen Brown, remaining completely in the playoff image and searching like a staff nobody in the East needed to play.
Then they traded a bit of their staff at the commerce deadline to get below the luxurious tax restrict, which seemingly went towards their success.
Jayson Tatum lacking Game 7 was an important blow to the Celtics.
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
On the heels of, effectively, getting worse so as to get monetary savings, Tatum was surprisingly able to return forward of schedule. It appeared Boston maybe discovered a option to each get monetary savings and get higher.
Well, uh, about that …
The second-seeded Celtics then misplaced in the first spherical to the Philadelphia 76ers, a staff they have been so used to taking behind the wooden shed. Boston is now left on the lookout for solutions for subsequent season.
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(Yes, Celtics followers. You can exhale now. Lord is aware of all of us have to.)
What’s subsequent?
Let’s get into it.
2025-26 end
Record: 56-26, second in the Eastern Conference. Eliminated in the first spherical by the Philadelphia 76ers in seven video games.
Highlight of the season
Jaylen Brown will not like this, given how a lot he did for the Celtics all yr, but the spotlight is the return of Tatum, and it is not even remotely shut. No one knew what kind of situation he’d be in. Whether he’d have bodily points or a gradual ramp-up. But he got here in, and instantly proved to be very a lot the similar participant. That’s large.
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In 16 regular-season video games, Tatum averaged 21.8 factors, 10 rebounds and 5.3 assists. Sure, it was disappointing he missed Game 7 with knee stiffness, but in his six playoff video games he posted 23.3 factors, 10.7 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 1.2 steals per sport. He’s going to be simply high quality subsequent yr.
Players signed for subsequent season
Jayson Tatum
Jaylen Brown
Key free brokers
Nikola Vučević (UFA)
Neemias Queta (staff choice)
Projected wage
$172,968,312
Draft picks
Nos. 27 & 40
Draft focus: While the draft is by no means a spot to suppose want, the Celtics should no less than think about using their picks on a giant man. They’re quick up entrance and haven’t got numerous depth, so frontcourt dimension ought to be a precedence.
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They ought to have the Tax-MLE helpful, pending no main strikes. Vučević hasn’t been taken care of but, and choosing up staff choices on as much as six younger gamers will improve the cap hit. The Celtics might want to step rigorously right here.
Needs and objectives
The purpose is a title, and that stays in play. Boston wants assist up entrance and could stand to search out extra level guard depth. Given how a lot cash they’ve on the cap, it is tough to see them make a giant play for somebody, nevertheless, except they’re prepared to connect draft fairness. But that could be in play contemplating how poorly this season ended.