The Boston Celtics have taken a step back this summer, and it will translate to the court next season.
Over the past couple of months, almost no team has been more active than the Celtics. With this offseason consisting of major trades and free agent departures, the Celtics are in a position to take a major fall next season.
Brad Stevens’ summer was highlighted by sending out Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. Meanwhile, Boston also lost Luke Kornet and likely Al Horford, among others, in the free agent market, leaving the team without some of its top contributors from the past couple of seasons.
A disastrous summer in Boston
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Considering all of the moves the Celtics made, it would be hard to be optimistic about next season if the team were fully healthy. However, once Jayson Tatum’s expected season-long absence is added into the equation, it’s hard to justify any of Boston’s moves from a basketball perspective.
That landed the Celtics in last place on David Aldridge’s ranking of every NBA team’s offseason for [The Athletic](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6466375/2025/08/19/nba-offseason-rankings-2024-warriors-celtics-pacers-pistons/). Calling Boston’s situation “bleak,” Aldridge explained that the second apron was a horror for the Celtics to deal with this offseason.
With most of Boston’s deals prompted by its financial situation, the franchise had almost no choice but to break up its title-winning core just a year after securing the team’s 18th championship. Building around Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, Aldridge also noted that there simply won’t be much help for the stars next season.
Even if some of the low-risk additions pan out for Boston, it’s hard to believe the Celtics can maintain their status as one of the league’s best in 2026.