Draft Outlook
Last season, the Celtics were in the conference finals. This season, before that same round was over, the Celtics had replaced their retired president of basketball ops with their coach, traded their starting point guard, and hired a new coach. They still have two of the best young wings in the league, a strong foundation for a mid-sized remodel. Marcus Smart and the reacquired Al Horford are solid veteran role players, but there are more questions than answers in regard to rotation spots 5-10.
A Stat That Matters
43 — The Celtics played 43 games that were within five points in the last five minutes, most in the league. They were 17-26 (0.395, fourth worst in the league) in those games and 19-10 (0.655) otherwise.
The Way To Go
Jaylen Brown is 24 years old with three years left on his rookie extension, while Jayson Tatum is 23 with four years left. So, the Celtics certainly aren’t in the league’s most urgent situation. They don’t have any first round picks, but they do have a slew of 23-and-under guys that have shown flashes of being able to contribute. The most important of those are big man Robert Williams III (eligible for his own extension this summer) and their two lottery picks from the last two Drafts — Romeo Langford and Aaron Nesmith. So it’s an important summer in regard to player development.
Under Contract
G: Carsen Edwards
G: Payton Pritchard
G: Marcus Smart
G/F: Jaylen Brown
G/F: Romeo Langford
G/F: Aaron Nesmith
G/F: Jayson Tatum
F: Jabari Parker
F: Grant Williams
C/F: Al Horford
C/F: Tristan Thompson
C/F: Robert Williams
C: Moses Brown
Free Agents
G: Tremont Walters (restricted)
G/F: Evan Fournier (unrestricted)
F: Semi Ojeleye (unrestricted)
F/C: Luke Kornet (unrestricted)
C: Tacko Fall (restricted)
> 2021 Free Agent Tracker
Last Year’s Draft
2020: Aaron Nesmith (14), Payton Pritchard (26), Yam Madar (47)
— John Schuhmann