Pre-Draft Outlook
The Celtics have reached the Eastern Conference Finals in five of the last seven seasons, and their two best players — Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown — are still just 25 and 26 years old, respectively. But they still haven’t won a championship since 2008, even though they have the third most playoff wins (103) over the 15 years since. This year’s finish was a disappointment, with the Celtics losing to the No. 8-seeded Miami Heat in the East Finals, almost becoming the first NBA team to win a series it trailed 3-0, but getting blown out in their own building in Game 7. The foundation for several more years of title contention is there, but work is needed around the edges.
The Way to Go
With only the 35th pick in the Draft, the Celtics are unlikely to find them a player who can help them win a championship in the next few years. The biggest issue of the summer will be a potential extension for Brown, who would be a free agent in 2024 and is eligible to sign a five-year, $295 million dollar deal that would keep him under contract through 2028-29. Brown still has room for improvement and ended the season with a career-high eight turnovers in Game 7, but the Celtics should certainly want to keep their star tandem together long-term.
— John Schuhmann
Here’s a quick look at who the Boston Celtics have under contract, who is a free agent this summer and who they added in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Under Contract
G: Malcolm Brogdon
G: Payton Pritchard
G: Marcus Smart
G: Derrick White
G/F Jaylen Brown
G/F: Justin Champagnie
F/G: Jayson Tatum
F: Sam Hauser
C/F: Al Horford
C/F: Luke Kornet
C/F: Robert Williams III
Free Agents
G: JD Davison (two-way)
F: Danilo Gallinari (player option)
F: Blake Griffin (unrestricted)
F: Grant Williams (restricted)
F/C: Mike Muscala (team option)
C: Mfiondu Kabengele (two-way)
> 2023 Free Agent Tracker
Last Year’s Draft
2022: JD Davison (53)
* = acquired via trade
** = traded in draft-night deal
*** = traded in offseason deal