The 2025-26 NBA season is right around the corner as teams are gearing up for the preseason. The Boston Celtics' upcoming roster will look different from previous seasons, whether it's because of Jayson Tatum's Achilles injury or the various moves that happened this summer. Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis were both traded away following the NBA finals, and both Luke Kornet and Al Horford signed elsewhere in free agency.
Having said that, the Celtics are far from a perfect team. Head coach Joe Mazzulla will have his hands full with several issues this season, including his team's glaring lack of frontcourt depth.
Celtics' Lack of Frontcourt Depth is a Major Issue
When it comes to the Celtics' frontcourt, Neemias Queta is the lone returner who saw quality minutes, registering 13.9 minutes a night in 62 games. He's now projected to be the Celtics' starting center following all of the offseason moves. While some fans might be worried due to his inexperience, I believe Queta is being undervalued and could be poised for a breakout season. Even though I feel comfortable with him, the rest of the frontcourt depth is concerning.
Other than Queta, Xavier Tillman is back with the Celtics, hoping to rebound from a rough campaign last season. During the Celtics media day, Tillman opened up about his knee issues (h/t @RealBobManning) returning last year, but feeling better after an injection and losing 12 pounds. Tillman had some big moments against the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals, so he's proven that he can step up. Still, his knee history could hold him back, even if he wants a bigger role.
The Celtics brought in both Luka Garza and Chris Boucher in free agency; however, neither name overly excites the fan base. Garza spent the last three seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves and played sparingly. The former Iowa Hawkeye is best known for his offense, but it hasn't translated well to the pro game so far.
Boucher joins the Celtics after a lengthy tenure with the Toronto Raptors. He is the oldest member of the frontcourt at 32 years old, but has mostly come off the bench, with 14 games started being his most in a season. Both Garza and Boucher have different question marks, and while I feel more confident in Boucher, who knows if you can rely on him to be a consistent starter?
The Celtics added Amari Williams from Kentucky through the 2025 NBA draft. Williams will more than likely play his rookie season with Maine in the G League, leaving time to tell if he can play well enough to join the main roster. Then again, if Boston is desperate enough to give Williams key minutes, the frontcourt depth may be worse than expected.
Hopefully, the Celtics figure out how to improve their frontcourt depth before it's too late. With how many skilled bigs keep entering the league, Boston's big men will be tested every night, and failing to bring in reinforcements could make the situation a season-long headache.