NBA news: What is next for the Boston Celtics? Five key talking points about Boston’s impending summer

After a disastrous loss to the New York Knicks, the Boston Celtics have now been knocked out of the NBA Postseason in the second round of the Eastern Conference. 

The loss is still very fresh on the minds of Boston Celtics supporters.

However, it is hard to argue that this summer is vital in deciding what route the 2024 Champions go down - especially after the incomprehensible injury to Jayson Tatum. 

Sports News Blitz writer Ethan Pitts looks at five key talking points ahead of a massive summer of rebuild for the Boston Celtics.

1) Is Jaylen Brown ready to be the number one option? 

As Game Four of the Eastern Conference second round concluded, the Celtics were on the verge of a humiliating exit at the hands of the Knicks all whilst their franchise superstar was in the midst of an operation on his ruptured right Achilles. 

Tatum has been the heartbeat of everything the Celtics have done well in the last half-decade, and alongside Brown, they have combined to create one of the NBA’s deadliest forces. 

With Boston’s Batman now out, they now need Robin to step up and be accounted for. 

Brown displayed in game five the tendencies needed to lead a team. His all-round game was that of a leader and someone the Celtics could depend on.

There have been a few murmurs about a trade for Jaylen Brown if the Celtics want to go into full tank mode.

This is an avenue I cannot see Brad Stevens going down unless he is offered something out of this world for Boston’s number seven. 

2) Where does Kristaps Porzingis’ future lie? 

One of the key decisions Stevens has to make in the 2025 off-season is deciding the future of Kristaps Porzingis and extracting as much value from Porzingis as humanely possible. 

Porzingis enjoyed another great regular season for the Celtics, averaging 20 points.

However, the Latvian once again suffered from injuries and illnesses that affected his overall contribution come crunch time.

Due to this, the consensus among Celtics fans is that Porzingis’ future may lie elsewhere in the next season.

The Celtics are suffering financially and are 20 million above the dreaded second apron - which would result in them losing a future draft pick.

Porzingis is currently earning $29,000,000 per year and is on an expiring contract, which presents value itself. 

If the Celtics do plan a future without their first-team centre, it’s pivotal that they try and get some young talent who can obtain higher minutes in the absence of Tatum. 

3) Could Jrue Holiday have played his last game? 

Similar to Porzingis, Jrue Holiday could have played his last game as a Celtic. 

Holiday has been ever-present in the last 18 months for the Celtics and has formed an exceptional back-court partnership with Derrick White. 

Holiday however is getting older and is earning a lot of money. His contract also increases year by year, which will only eat into an already depleted Celtics salary cap. 

The 34-year-old has stated that he sees his future in Boston as he believes a championship window is still open, even without Tatum.

However, it remains to be seen if this assertion is aligned with the new ownership setup. 

Holiday has been a great servant in his 18 months at Boston, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the Celtics prioritised the retention of other players and sacrificed Holiday for financial purposes.

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4) Could the Celtics trade into the lottery? 

This heavily links to the two points above, and a trade into the draft lottery would have to include one of Porzingis or Holiday. 

The NBA Draft is coming up and it is as poised as ever. A blasphemous draft lottery left viewers stunned as the Dallas Mavericks achieved the number one pick from a 1.8% probability.

The San Antonio Spurs and the Philadelphia 76ers rounded up the top three, which only adds to the chaos that might unravel this summer. 

All three sides could definitely be considered as ‘win-now franchises’ and with the right offer you could tempt one of these teams into trading their pick. 

The Rockets could benefit from added veteran squad depth as they aim for another play-off push, so I imagine they might trade the number 10 pick. 

The opportunities could be there for the Celtics, although I doubt that the Celtics are that desperate to blow their franchise up just yet.

It is likely they will aim to draft well with their 27th pick in the first round. 

5) An entirely new rotation

To conclude the summer, there is a high possibility that the Celtics will go into next year with a completely different bench rotation. 

Luke Kornet has been a great defensive anchor for the Celtics when called upon from the bench, but with an expiring contract, you can see a lot of suitors coming in for him.

He has great rim protection and is an excellent shot blocker - two attributes that are indispensable to a winning franchise.

It would not surprise me if teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors would pay him more than the Celtics could afford. 

Sam Hauser is another player that could well leave the Celtics. Albeit not on an expiring deal, Hauser is accumulating $10 million a year.

Hauser is one of the best three-point shooters in the league, shooting on a 42% efficiency.

With many teams lacking that perennial ability from three-point range, Hauser could well be a player of interest and a player that the Celtics can afford to lose. 

This means that the Celtics may have to rely on the likes of the rookie, Baylor Scheierman, and Neemias Queta in next year’s rotation.

Both are largely inexperienced in comparison to both Kornet and Hauser. 

The Celtics face a difficult summer ahead, and what was described as a potential dynasty might be about to be ripped apart in front of our very eyes.

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