The Boston Celtics are entering the 2025-26 season with diminished expectations as compared with recent years — this is not news to anyone following the NBA. However, some feel that Boston will be a better squad than they’re being described as. Even without Jayson Tatum in the picture, the Celtics’ offense should still be pretty potent with four-time All-Star Jaylen Brown leading the charge alongside Derrick White (All-Star candidate) and reigning Sixth Man of the Year, Payton Pritchard.
So much can happen during an NBA season, and what teams look like on paper in September often has little to do with who is still standing in June. Injuries have become one of the greatest factors determining championships in recent years, and the Celtics, of course, are well aware of that. If this 2025-26 Celtics group can stay healthy, there’s no telling what they can do in an Eastern Conference that is devoid of any clear powerhouses beyond the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks.
Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz conducted an interesting thought experiment on Thursday, grading each NBA team’s title chances on the traditional letter-grade scale, with a twist. Swartz included a short description of what each letter grade means for his list. “A: The top title contenders. These teams should expect to win the 2026 championship,” Swartz wrote. “B: Playoffs locks, but one small trade away or need a little internal development to win a title. … C: Playoff aspirations, but will need a blockbuster trade to reach championship contention. … D: Hoping for a play-in spot at best. Still a year (or more) away from title talk. … F: Start checking the 2026 mock drafts.”
The only East teams to receive an “A” from Swartz were the Cavs and Knicks. Out West? Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Celtics received a “C” from Swartz, and here is what he had to say about Boston:
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“The 2024 NBA champions can’t completely be counted out, especially since they decided to keep Finals MVP Jaylen Brown and two-time All-Defensive team member Derrick White. The Boston Celtics also have multiple first-round picks they can trade moving forward as well as Anfernee Simons on an expiring $27.6 million contract. The potential to make a move for some frontcourt help is there.”
“The Eastern Conference is weak enough for the Celtics to still snag a playoff spot, even as Jayson Tatum likely misses the entire season with a torn Achilles,” Swartz added. “This is a roster built for the 2027 title race, however, when Tatum, Brown, White and others will all be on the floor together again.”
Don’t count on Brad Stevens to make any vast improvements to the roster during the middle of the year. If Simons is traded, it’ll be to shed more salary, not to increase title odds for the present season.
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That doesn’t mean this Celtics team won’t surprise a bunch of people. On paper, they are capable of reaching the second round of the playoffs. And if injuries befall some of the other East contenders, that ceiling only gets higher.