The Celtics were predicted to be one of the teams with the biggest regressions this upcoming season by ESPN.
The last four months for the Boston Celtics have been tumultuous, to say the very least.
A 109-100 loss to archrivals, the Philadelphia 76ers on May 2 capped off a series loss for the Celtics in the first round of the NBA playoffs, a disappointment after the team secured the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference despite missing superstar Jayson Tatum for most of the year. To make matters worse, Boston blew a 3-1 series against Philadelphia, ending the former's season.
Since then, the Celtics' season has gotten more chaotic. They traded former NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, who was drafted by the organization in the 2016 NBA Draft, to the 76ers, drawing confusion and ire from several fans over the choice of trade partner for the decade-long-tenured wing.
Boston has attempted to build a roster capable of returning to the NBA Finals since the move. In the Brown trade, the Celtics netted multi-time All-Star and NBA All-Defensive player Paul George.
In addition to acquiring George in the Brown trade (in addition to multiple future draft picks), Boston has also made several other free agent deals this offseason as well as contract extensions.
The Celtics signed center and rim protector Mitchell Robinson to a three-year, $47.38 million contract coming off his NBA championship win with the New York Knicks. It brought in defensive, veteran point guard Mike Conley on a one-year, $3.876 million deal.
In addition to bringing in the two veterans, Boston also locked down one of its surprise performers from last season, center Neemias Queta, to a four-year, $56 million deal.
And at least to one publication, that might not be enough.
ESPN recently released its 2026-27 season summer forecast, put together by various NBA insiders. In the article, it has the Celtics as one of the likeliest clubs to be one of the season's most disappointing teams.
The publication has the Los Angeles Lakers, who lost LeBron James to Philadelphia via free agency, as the likeliest disappointment. The Detroit Pistons, who secured the top seed in the Eastern Conference last year, is the second-likeliest disappointment, followed by, in order, the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat and Boston.
The same outlook has the Celtics as one of the likeliest teams to make a "big move" before the trade deadline. Other teams predicted to be disappointing, including the Heat, the Warriors and the Pistons, are also included in that category.
