After another disappointing playoff exit, a lot of eyes are on the Boston Celtics this summer and what they might do in the offseason to bolster their roster and get back in the title hunt.
So far, a lot of the talk has been around Boston potentially trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo and an upgrade at starting center. And while nothing is set in stone at all (the offseason hasn't even officially begun yet), it seems that fans aren't the only ones who think the Celtics could be in line for a busy offseason.
In a recent episode of the "ALL NBA Podcast," NBA insider Marc Stein said he thinks Brad Stevens will make a trade this offseason to improve Boston's standing in the East.
"As inventive and bold as Brad Stevens has been, I just think somehow they're gonna find a way to recharge themselves with a trade, and again, they're in the East. One move can move you up the ladder a lot quicker in the East than in the West. That is just reality," Stein said about the Celtics.
The Celtics could have a busy offseason ahead of them
It's clear that Boston needs to do something this summer. The team can bank on natural progression all it wants (which is still incredibly important, don't get it twisted), but they need to make some big changes if they want to re-establish themselves as legitimate title contenders.
Regardless of whether it's Antetokounmpo, a new starting center like Wendell Carter Jr. or Myles Turner, or just a bunch of fill-in-the-margins type of trades, the Celtics need to make a real move in the offseason, because the team they currently have constructed clearly isn't good enough.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown won't be able to do it all on their own, and they need more (real) help around them.
Derrick White can't be trusted to be a third option on a championship team at this stage of his career. Neemias Queta and Luka Garza are not good enough to be the two best centers on a contending team. And unless you have Tatum, Brown, Bill Russell, and Bob Cousy in your starting lineup, you're not going to win many playoff games with Sam Hauser as a starter.
The Celtics still have a bright future, and with the Jays together, they're always going to be a team to monitor in the East. But if they want to capitalize on their current championship window, then some changes are going to need to be made this offseason. And as it stands, it seems like that could very possibly happen.
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