The Boston Celtics miraculous season ended in tragedy, their 3-1 lead over the Philadelphia 76ers slipping through their fingers. Many have pointed the blame at Jaylen Brown, the very same individual that led them to a top-two seed in the Eastern Conference. Despite his status as one of the game’s premier two-way players, Brown was an inefficient playmaker, posting more turnovers (25) than assists (23).
All the same, Brown averaged 25.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, all while shooting 45.5% from the field and 40.5% from 3. For whatever reason, perhaps the whispered tug-of-war between he and Jayson Tatum, Brown is just the scapegoat. The real issue for the Celtics was their inability to slow down either Tyrese Maxey or Joel Embiid, who both scored over 26 points per game and converted at least 44 percent of their field goal attempts. Meanwhile, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard both shot under 31 percent from 3 and couldn’t be trusted to guard their own position.
What Should The Celtics Do In The 2026 Offseason?
Keeping that in perspective, there’s no need for Boston to re-design the wheel. They simply need to tinker with their personnel, upgrading their center and backcourt rotation.
2026 NBA Draft
The Celtics are projected to have the 27th and 40th overall picks in the 2026 NBA Draft. Given their ability to locate rotation-level prospects late in the draft, their scouting department has earned the benefit of the doubt. With that in mind, there are a number of guards and centers that they’ll likely have their eyes on in this range. This is not only due to their team needs but because an army of guard and center prospects are in the 20-50 range on most big boards.
For Boston, the hope should be acquiring a starting-caliber prospect with their first-rounder. So far as the players under contract, White and Pritchard are the team’s only lead initiators in the backcourt. Because of their impact on both ends of the court, this isn’t as problematic as it could be. Yet, the Celtics just saw how ugly it can get when neither player is on their game. Though the player Boston drafts with the No. 27 pick doesn’t have to be a full-time starter, they have to be able to play starter minutes should the need arise.
Based on the Celtics’ emphasis on 3-pointers and defense, Vanderbilt point guard Tyler Tanner is the best fit. However, they’ll probably have stiff competition for his services. In fact, the Denver Nuggets –who hold the 26th overall pick —could use his services as well. Luckily for Boston, there’s another point guard with an efficient 3-ball and stout defense that will likely be available: Ohio State’s Bruce Thornton.
With the 40th overall pick, the Celtics could target a center. However, it’s worth remembering that they drafted Amari Williams with the 46th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Between Williams, Neemias Queta and Luka Garza, Boston’s center rotation is three-deep. Notably, Williams is much more mobile than impending free agent Nikola Vucevic, which should elevate Boston’s defense. Additionally, Williams has a longer wingspan (7-foot-6) than Queta (7-foot-4), another physical tool that’s in his favor.
So, instead of using the No. 40 pick on a center, the Celtics would be wise to add a wing that can actually create off the dribble. At the end of the day, Brown and Tatum form a twin turbo engine. However, if either of them can’t play (or isn’t playing well), it’s far too difficult for Boston to score unassisted points. As a result, the Celtics should target either Dailyn Swain (Texas) or Juke Harris (Wake Forest). Neither has pristine touch from outside but they’re quick-twitch athletes who make scoring look easy. Swain is the more disruptive defender, and Harris the more assertive shooter.
Free Agency
Entering the offseason, the Celtics will have four free agents, not counting two-way signing John Tonje. No player in that quartet has played well enough to make them a priority re-signing. Not Vucevic. Not Dalano Banton. Nor Ron Harper Jr. and Max Shulga. To be fair to Banton, Harper and Shulga, they did excel in their G League stints last season. They’re clearly talented enough to be on an NBA roster. Nonetheless, teams aren’t typically foaming at the mouths because a guy did well in their development league. If any of those three are re-signed, it will be to provide cheap depth.
So far as their team options, like Jordan Walsh ($2.4m) and Baylor Scheierman ($2.7m), there should be no question about whether the Celtics should pick up Neemias Queta‘s ($2.7m). However, all three may need to wait on securing a long-term extension while Boston continues to monitor the state of the franchise.
Additional Moves
Following those moves, this is what the Celtics’ depth chart could look like in 2026-27:
Payton Pritchard, Bruce Thornton
Derrick White, Baylor Scheierman, Max Shulga
Jaylen Brown, Hugo Gonzalez, Juke Harris
Jayson Tatum, Sam Hauser, Jordan Walsh, Ron Harper Jr.
Neemias Queta, Amari Williams, Luka Garza
Because of their limited assets, there really isn’t a big splash to expect. However, Boston does have a sizable trade exception ($22.5 million) that they can use to reel in Ahab’s whale. They also have a much smaller but still significant $4.7 million trade exception. Both of those trade exceptions must be used by July 7.
With their $22.5 million trade exception, they could target a player like Sacramento Kings sixth man Malik Monk. Due to the state of the Kings’ franchise, they may be more than willing to shed his salary. In that scenario, the Celtics would bolster their bench scoring, which ranked 16th in the regular season (36.8 points per game). Oklahoma City Thunder veteran defender Alex Caruso, who’ll earn $19.6 million next season, is another option. Not only is he noticeably older than the bulk of the Thunder’s core at 32, Oklahoma City faces important contract decisions for players like Cason Wallace and Isaiah Hartenstein, making Caruso more expendable.
Due to the success they had with five-out offenses, the Celtics could also explore re-acquiring Al Horford via trade. With the almost-ageless wonder on a soon-to-be expiring $6 million contract and on a team in chaos, both he and the Warriors might welcome such a move. Similarly, Boston could kick the tires on Bobby Portis Jr. if the Milwaukee Bucks end up trading Giannis Antetokounmpo. An NBA champion with two top-three Sixth Man of the Year finishes in the past four seasons, Portis will earn $14.5 million in 2026-27.
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