The Boston Celtics’ dominance over the East may be at an end.
The team’s playoff run abruptly ended when they were unceremoniously bounced from the second round of the playoffs. On top of losing to their old rival, the team also saw superstar Jayson Tatum go down with an Achilles injury. That means Boston will likely be without him next season, leading many to question where they go from here.
Below, we’ll discuss the team’s current position and the three options they’ll likely choose from.
Where Boston Currently Stands
The Celtics have had one of the league’s top rosters for years, but that run will end this summer. Boston’s salary cap will be tight heading into next season, meaning they’ll likely be forced to trade one of their other stars. That list includes Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, and Kristaps Porzingis.
Even if Boston moves one of those stars, they won’t have the cap space to add another for next season. That removes any hope of temporarily replacing Tatum, who signed a new contract this year that runs through 2029.
There is some early hope that Tatum could return for a playoff run next season. However, rushing him back could lead to another tear, costing the star another season.
Option 1: Trading Stars for Depth
The first option we see the team having is trading away several older stars. Expect to see the rumors around Holiday and Porzingis swirling all summer. These veteran stars may not yield as much as others on the trade market, but they could help the team build depth while Tatum is out.
This option would allow the team to keep two younger stars in Brown and White. That means Boston would still have one of the league’s best trios, while also gaining much-needed depth.
While this option seems the safest, the Celtics would risk botching this quick rebuild. We saw the Milwaukee Bucks let Holiday go, and the entire league could see the gigantic hole it left in their roster. The aging point guard has talked about retirement, but continues to be a crucial part of the Celtics team.
Option 2: Fire Sale
The Celtics’ second option is far more drastic. This would include trading White and Brown. Both players would command massive returns from other NBA teams and restock the Celtics with promising young talent.
One of the benefits of going this route is that it would give Tatum at least two years to settle in. Achilles injuries can be tricky, and gaining the confidence and comfort to return to the court is difficult. The possibility of taking the pressure off of him to rush back and dominate could help him ease back in and help lead a roster of developing stars.
Fans won’t like this option, but there are reasons to believe it would be well worth the gamble.
While Boston has made it to the last three NBA Finals, it felt like a long shot for them to do so again in 2024. They entered the season as one of the top betting favorites to win the league, but never really looked like that team during the season. With some aging stars playing key roles, NBA analysts wondered if we were approaching the end of Boston’s run even before Tatum went down.
One indicator of the Celtics’ decline comes from the sports betting world. Boston went 43-49-1 in point spread betting this season. That means they were winning games by smaller margins than expected, placing them in the company of the Hornets, Wizards, Pelicans, and Suns. No other team in the bottom half finished in the top six playoff spots.
Option 3: Hold the Line
The team will have to move at least one of their stars, but that could be the only change they opt to make. The team has built this core over the years and may be unwilling to give up on it.
One of the benefits of taking this route is that it would allow the team to see what the roster can do without Tatum. It would thrust Jaylen Brown into the top role and put far more pressure on Derrick White. This could help the team better decide who to trade next summer before Tatum is back to being 100%.
