On Monday, we examined recent comments from ESPN NBA Insider Brian Windhorst about how close or far away the Boston Celtics are from being true NBA contenders. Windhorst was optimistic about where the Celtics are right now, but others don't seem to share that same sentiment. Of course, the team's first-round exit against the Philadelphia 76ers can sour things, but is it fair to look that down upon Boston after they went 56-26 this season and finished second in the Eastern Conference?

Let's talk a little further about this, and how it relates to things that are coming this summer.

If you think the Celtics need a different style of play in 2026-27, that would be understandable. If you think the Celtics were too reliant on the three-point shot and could stand to benefit from getting a more balanced approach, that's absolutely fair to note. 

Maybe you want the Celtics to draft a big man, or maybe you want them to sign a free agent big man, and maybe you think the Celtics need to trade Jaylen Brown for Giannis Antetokounmpo. If you think any of that, that can all be reconciled to some degree.

It's not fair to say that the Celtics are far away right now and need to make changes just for the sake of making changes. The Celtics went 56-26 with Tatum playing only 16 games in the regular season.

That's an incredible year for any team, but especially a team playing without its best and highest-paid player.

For instance: The Indiana Pacers went from the NBA Finals to one of the worst teams in the league after losing Tyrese Haliburton and trading Myles Turner. It's hard to overcome losing good players, and the Celtics did that.

With a healthy Tatum, the Celtics are undoubtedly close to being a true contender, especially in the weaker Eastern Conference. If Boston elects to keep the entire group together with just a trade here or a signing there, that's absolutely justifiable, and anyone who acts like it isn't just isn't paying close enough attention. 

If Boston elects to make a move, it needs to because they have a targeted goal to get even closer to the top of the mountain, but again, it can't be making a move just for the sake of making one.

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