3 Celtics Playing Their Final Season in Boston
As the Boston Celtics arrive at the NBA All-Star Break, don't be surprised if these three players are playing their final season in Beantown.
The Boston Celtics get a temporary break now that the 2024 NBA All-Star Game is here. The Celtics head into the break with a league-best 43-12 recording, further cementing themselves as the team to beat this season as far as the Larry O'Brien Trophy is concerned.
Boston's players must enjoy the good times while they last, though. It won't be long before the offseason is here, bringing changes to the roster. While some players — like Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kristaps Porzingis — are set to be around for the long haul, others could be sent packing as soon as the summer gets here.
With that in mind, here are three Celtics who are likely playing their final season in Boston.
1. Svi Mykhailiuk
Svi Mykhailiuk has been one of the more disappointing Celtics to watch this season.
The former 2018 second-rounder has had a reputation for being a solid 3-and-D player but hasn't lived up to that moniker thus far. Heading into the All-Star Break, Mykhailiuk is averaging just 2.7 points and 0.7 three-pointers per game while shooting 33.8% from the floor and 30.8% on the perimeter.
Mykhailiuk just isn't a player that head coach Joe Mazzulla deploys all that often. The 26-year-old has carried a 'did not play' tag more times (30) than games he's played (23) this season. That isn't exactly a ringing endorsement when it comes to his chances of being re-signed this offseason.
Unless Mykhailiuk has an incredibly strong finish to the regular season/playoffs, it's hard to imagine him being kept around. While his defense is still decent, he's an offensive black hole, proven by his abysmal 97 offensive rating per 100 possessions. I won't be surprised if the Celtics replace Mykhailiuk with a wing player through free agency who can do his job better than him.