The Celtics finished second in the Eastern Conference last year, but the projections around them aren't very high this year.
Earlier this week, ESPN projected the Boston Celtics to be a disappointing team in 2026-27.
A commenter in our community section asked if this was a rebuilding year for Boston, just one season after they finished second in the Eastern Conference.
So, I got to thinking: Where exactly are the Celtics right now?
And I think I've landed here.
Prognosis
I think the Celtics are destined to be the No. 5 or the No. 6 team in the Eastern Conference playoff mix. The Eastern Conference, often the punching bag for NBA analysts, has become much deeper this offseason.
The Knicks and 76ers appear a cut above the rest, while the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons figure to be better than the Celtics as well.
At that point, I think the Celtics are battling with the Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers and Toronto Raptors for the fifth spot. I think the Celtics, just mathematically, will end up losing out to one of those teams, so I think they are destined for No. 6, avoiding the play-in tournament, but not a threat to win the NBA title.
So, are they rebuilding?
No. I believe the Celtics are actively trying to win, I just don't believe they are as talented as they've been in the last few years.
To me, rebuilding means that you are basically tearing it down. If the Celtics were doing that, they'd move on from Derrick White, Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard, in addition to Jaylen Brown. They wouldn't have spent nearly $50 million on Mitchell Robinson. They would have just been content to play Neemias Queta and draft pick Chris Cenac Jr. at the center position.
That's rebuilding. Trading expensive veterans, not adding in free agency, content to play young kids. The Celtics didn't do that. They subtracted in some spots and added in others. I think the result is a net negative, but that doesn't mean rebuilding.
Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens speaks during a press conference as co-owner and alternate governor Aditya Mittalat (black) and lead owner and governor Bill Chisholm (white) look on at Auerbach Center. Eric Canha-Imagn ImagesSo, what is it then?
I think the Celtics are trying to win, I just think this is more of a transition year. It's a year in which they want to compete, and in which they want their fans to experience winning, but it's a year that will also help reset some things organizationally. A reset is not a rebuild.
Paul George's contract runs out a year earlier than Brown's did, so being able to shuffle the deck financially, quicker, is important as the C's work to build the next great team.
Will this team be enjoyable to watch?
When you remove "winning the title," as the only expectation, there's joy in watching other aspects as well. Seeing how Cenac and Dillon Mitchell develop, as well how Jayson Tatum rebounds in his first full year back, will absolutely give the Celtics fans something fun to watch.
Robinson should give the Celtics something they haven't had in a few years, a true big man that plays on the interior.
