With less than a week until the Celtics begin training camp on September 25th, the vibe feels much different than in years past.
Think back to last season. There were plenty of storylines: the additions of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, the departures of Marcus Smart, Robert Williams III, and Grant Williams, and the ongoing debate of whether Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown could finally bring a championship to Boston.
This year feels different. While the offseason didn’t lack its share of drama—between the Olympics and majority owner Wyc Grousbeck announcing his family’s intention to sell their share of the team—the Celtics enter camp as NBA champions and are set to return 15 of their 17 players (including two-ways) from last season’s title run, leaving fans feeling pretty good about the team’s position.
Still, there are some lingering questions if they want to stay on top of the basketball world. Let’s dive into a couple of them.
Will Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown be motivated by the Olympics?
The question has dominated Celtics discourse all summer: How will Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown respond to their respective Olympic snubs?
Brown, overlooked entirely by Team USA, and Tatum, relegated to minimal playing time with two DNPs, now find themselves in an unusual position—having something to prove, even after a championship season.
“Absolutely,” Brown said when asked if being left off the team has fueled his motivation. “I’m super fired up. I’ve got all the motivation in the world to come out and improve. I love it, honestly.”
We’ve seen what these two can do when driven—last season is proof. They turned previous setbacks and outside noise into fuel, channeling those lessons into a title run. Now, can they tap into that same fire to defend their crown?
More importantly, can they keep evolving as playmakers and uphold their commitment to “sacrifice” for the team’s success? Last season, their dedication to this concept was crucial to the team’s achievements, setting the tone for the entire roster.
“Joe [Mazzulla] has definitely mentioned it, but we as players gotta buy in. JT has probably been the most vocal about it,” Derrick White told WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show in February when discussing the team’s unselfish nature.
“[He’s] like, ‘I don’t care if I just score 18 points or whatever. If we win and get to the end goal, I’m gonna be happy it.’ A guy in his position that’s willing to take that sacrifice, it definitely means a lot. JB has done the same thing, too. [He’s] like, ‘How can I make the right play each time down that’s not me scoring or me even being involved in the play?’”
Steve Kerr, Grant Hill, and USA Basketball have given Tatum and Brown the kick in the behind that may have needed coming off a title. The challenge now lies in applying this motivation on the court while staying focused on team success over individual accolades.
How do the Celtics handle the absence of Kristaps Porzingis?
In late June, Kristaps Porzingis underwent surgery to repair a torn retinaculum and a dislocated posterior tibialis tendon, injuries sustained during the NBA Finals. With a recovery timeline of five to six months, Porzingis is expected to return around Christmas, potentially missing 20 to 30 games.
During Porzingis’s absence, the reliable Al Horford will step into the starting lineup.
Despite ongoing discussions about Horford’s age, these concerns seem overblown. The 38-year-old demonstrated his enduring vitality in last year’s postseason by appearing in all 19 games and starting 15. He averaged 9.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists, with a +140 plus-minus—the third-best in the playoffs, behind only Jayson Tatum (+147) and Jrue Holiday (+143). In the regular season, with Porzingis out, Horford played 30.3 minutes per game, averaging 11.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.1 blocks.
You can count on Horford. But what about the rest of the bigs?
Backing up Horford will be Luke Kornet, Xavier Tillman, and Neemias Queta. Kornet and Tillman will likely have the edge over Queta, though Queta has shown promise with his athleticism, energy, and rim protection on both ends of the floor.
All three will likely see time while Porzingis is out. The Celtics effectively managed Horford and Porzingis during back-to-backs last season, resting each player during alternate games, and will likely use a similar approach. If Porzingis remains out through December, Boston will face five back-to-backs without him.
The Celtics were 21-4 without Porzingis in the regular season and 10-2 in the playoffs. While Horford’s play and the roster’s overall talent are factors, Kornet, Tillman, and Queta each proved themselves as viable options when called upon last season.
Can Joe Mazzulla set the tone again?
Make no mistake: Mazzulla’s influence was a critical factor in the Celtics’ success last season.
From day one, he emphasized the importance of maintaining the right mindset and not cutting corners—a principle the team adopted throughout the season, helping them avoid complacency, leading to Banner 18. The players quickly embraced Mazzulla’s message, creating a cohesive and connected unit.
Mazzulla has a distinctive way of communicating that resonates deeply with the team and earns their trust. It will be up to him to replicate this connection in the new season, and given the respect and admiration he commands, that should be well within his reach.
However, being the team to beat brings new challenges.
“I know this: Human nature is going be another huge opponent. All of our opponents – when you win – the other 29 teams target you,” Brad Stevens said. “It’s a different thing to come back from and then be great again. But that’s a fun challenge.”
Mazzulla is a critical thinker who embraces putting his team in uncomfortable, high-pressure situations that test their resilience and ability to perform under unique circumstances. So, he certainly isn’t shying away from this challenge.
“People are gonna say the target is on our back, but I hope it’s right on our forehead between our eyes,” Mazzulla told John Karalis on the “Locked On Celtics” podcast. “I hope I can see the red dot.”
Mazzulla will ensure his team is prepared. It’s also worth noting that fast starts have become a hallmark of Mazzulla-led teams; in his two seasons as head coach, the Celtics have an impressive 32-8 record in October and November. But again, it’s a lot different when you are now the team being hunted.
What does Brad Stevens do with the final roster spot?
The Celtics enter training camp with 14 of their 15 standard roster spots filled. They’re bringing back 13 of the 15 players (White, Holiday, Tatum, Brown, Porzingis, Horford, Pritchard, Hauser, Kornet, Tillman, Springer, Queta, and Walsh) from last season’s championship run, including all nine players who logged the most minutes. The only departures are Oshae Brissett and Svi Mykhailiuk, who combined for just 1,043 regular-season minutes. The lone new addition to the standard roster is first-round pick Baylor Scheierman.
All three two-way spots are occupied: JD Davison returns for a third year, Drew Peterson for a second, and second-round pick Anton Watson takes the final spot. Players on two-way contracts can appear in up to 50 regular-season games, with the flexibility to move between the NBA and the G-League.
The Celtics have also signed Lonnie Walker IV, Tristan Enaruna, Ron Harper Jr., and Dmytro Skapintsev to Exhibit 10 contracts, rounding out Boston’s 21-man roster for camp.
Most of these Exhibit 10 players are likely headed to Maine unless picked up by another team. However, Lonnie Walker IV is an intriguing case.
It’s a bit surprising that the Celtics managed to sign Walker late in the free agency period. The 25-year-old, a former first-round pick (18th overall) by the San Antonio Spurs in 2018, has proven to be a capable scorer, averaging 11.2 points per game over the past four seasons while shooting 42.3% from the field and 35.2% from beyond the arc. Last season in Brooklyn, he posted 9.7 points in just 17.4 minutes per game across 58 appearances off the bench.
Walker, a 6-foot-4 guard with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, is a tremendous athlete and has shown he can be a reliable reserve in the league.
Boston took a no-risk chance by signing him to an Exhibit 10 deal, giving him the opportunity to earn a roster spot during camp. If things click, the Celtics can offer him the final roster spot on a minimum contract. If not, Walker could earn a $77,500 bonus for joining the Celtics’ G-League affiliate in Maine.
In the past, Stevens has preferred to keep the final roster spot open. However, he may carry a non-guaranteed contract into the season and decide whether to retain a 15th player closer to the January guarantee date if Walker proves he is worthy of a spot.
Can Jayson Tatum find his three-point shot?
This isn’t really a concern, but it might be worth watching.
Tatum finished the postseason shooting a career-low 39-of-138 (28.3%) from deep. He had his worst three-point shooting series in the Finals against Dallas when he shot 10-of-38 (26.3%).
Did it matter? Nope.
The five-time All-Star led the team in points (25.0), rebounds (9.7), and assists (6.3) per game, joining Hakeem Olajuwon, LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, Tim Duncan, and Larry Bird as the only players in NBA history to win a title and lead their team in total points, rebounds, and assists.
In the past, the Celtics would have needed Tatum to deliver high-scoring nights consistently. But this version of the Celtics is different. With so many talented players on the roster, they don’t rely on Tatum to be the primary scorer every night. It’s okay for him to defer, make the right plays, and contribute in other ways. Tatum’s willingness to adapt and work as a facilitator was a significant factor in Boston’s success and one of his most prominent areas of growth last season.
Still, Celtics fans know how it goes with Tatum—critics will seize on any flaw, and right now, that’s his three-point shooting.
It’s a prolonged slump that followed him into the Olympics, with the now-two-time Olympic gold medalist misfiring on all 11 of his attempts (including exhibitions) during the 2024 Summer Games.
There’s no doubt Tatum can shoot. Over his career (both regular season and postseason), he’s made 1,559 of his 4,215 three-point attempts, averaging 36.9%, above last season’s league average of 36.6%.
Moreover, Tatum is one of only two players (along with Luka Doncic) to hit 1,000 career three-pointers before turning 25 and holds the record for the most career threes by a player younger than 27. He’s also second on the Celtics’ all-time three-pointers list, trailing only Paul Pierce.
Tatum will find his shot. It’s just a matter of when.
Related
