The Boston Celtics exceeded all expectations this season. Led by head coach Joe Mazzulla and MVP candidate Jaylen Brown, Boston finished the 2026 regular season with a 56-26 record and the second seed in the Eastern Conference. That's not too bad for a team that was projected to be picking near the top of this year's upcoming draft.
While the Celtics' regular season was an unbelievable success, their postseason run ended in the first round at the hands of the rival Philadelphia 76ers. What makes matters worse for Boston is that they had a 3-1 lead in the series and were unable to put Philadelphia away.
This is in large part due to how the team plays on offense. The team lives and dies by the three and isolation plays from its superstar tandem of Brown and Jayson Tatum, and while this strategy has proven to work in the regular season, the playoffs are a different beast. While the team did capture banner 18 in 2024, the team's inability to adjust has led to disappointing finishes in three of the last four seasons.
The Celtics need to make some veteran additions
This offseason, the President of Basketball Operations, Brad Stevens, needs to make major adjustments. This starts with finding a veteran point guard, preferably one with championship experience, who can lead the offense and get players in their right spots to succeed.
Fans can remember the addition of point guard Jrue Holiday before the 2024 season, and how he was able to get the team to the next level as NBA champions. While Holiday has a massive contract and may not want to come back to Boston after he was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers for Anfernee Simons, there should be other veteran point guards available via trade or free agency to help optimize this Celtics team.
Another acquisition that Stevens should explore is finding another starting-caliber big man. If the playoff series against the 76ers proved anything, it's that Boston's backup big men cannot be trusted in the biggest games. During every game against the 76ers, starting center Neemias Queta got into foul trouble trying to guard former league MVP Joel Embiid, and once he went to the bench, Boston had no answer in the paint.
For Boston, finding another starting-caliber center would give the team some much-needed size at the rim and a post presence.
The Celtics also need to change their offensive philosophy
While the additions of a veteran point guard and a starting-caliber center will make the team more complete on paper, the team's biggest change needs to come in its offensive philosophy. The days of the Big Three, when point guard Rajon Rondo would surgically run the offense, are over. But the best way for Boston to capture Banner 19 is to implement more variety, more ball movement, and more player movement.
This Celtics team will be better next season. With a healthy offseason for Tatum, when the 2027 season tips off, he will be two years removed from a devastating torn Achilles injury and will be back to playing like a top-five player once again. In addition, the young core of Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman, and Jordan Walsh will all be better after getting meaningful playing time this season.
But internal development and health alone won't fix this team.
With the right veteran moves this offseason, Boston will find its way back to title contender status. This version of the Celtics has reached its peak, and the time is now for Brad Stevens to bring in the right players to help put one of the league's best teams over the top.
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