Even with Jaylen Brown and Derrick White in the rotation, the 2025-26 Boston Celtics are expected to struggle. The lack of high-end depth and a limited frontcourt will both be issues for Joe Mazzulla’s team in the upcoming season.
Brad Stevens is overseeing a retooling of the current roster. With Jayson Tatum likely to miss the entire season, now is the perfect time to make those changes. However, that means the Celtics will likely struggle to be a competitive unit.
In a recent article for NBA.com, John Schuhmann explained just how bad things could get for the Celtics. He predicted the franchise will finish 12th in the Eastern Conference next season, ahead of the Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards, and Brooklyn Nets.
“What talent remains in Boston is all on the perimeter,” Schuhmann wrote. “As things stand, their bigs are Neemias Queta, Luka Garza and Xavier Tillman, with Niang probably set to play a lot of minutes at the four. That group is going to struggle matching up with the frontlines of the top six teams in these rankings.”
Schuhmann continued.
“The Celtics could set another record for 3-point rate, creating high variance from game to game and quarter to quarter. But the quality of those looks will certainly go down without Jayson Tatum’s creation and with opposing defenses able to help off of pieces of the rotation more than they could in years past.”
If Schuhmann’s prediction comes true, Boston will miss the postseason for the first time since 2014, when they finished the season with a 25-5 7 record.
Celtics Derrick White Speaks on Losing Luke Kornet
Luke Kornet left the Celtics via free agency earlier this summer. He signed a four-year $40.7 million deal with the San Antonio Spurs. Kornet had proven himself to be one of the best backup centers in the NBA over the past two seasons. Unfortunately for the Celtics, his production had priced him out of a return to Mazzulla’s roster.
In a recent episode of his “White Noise” podcast, Celtics guard Derrick White praised Kornet’s contributions and shared his expectation that the Spurs fanbase will love him.
“Luke, man, I’m so happy for him,” White said. “Like nobody deserves it more than him. This is a guy who was on a two-way, was cut, Exhibit 10s. He could’ve had more money elsewhere, then came back with us, and for most of the year, he was carrying us…You hate to see him go, but you’re just so happy for him to get what he deserves, and San Antonio’s going to love him.”
White continued.
“He’s a guy who knows how to play the game the right way. A guy you want to play with. He makes the game easy for you because he’s not asking for the ball on the block. He’s not asking for any stat. He’s not hunting stats. I think he’s going to have a fun time in San Antonio, and [I’m] definitely going to miss him.”
Kornet’s departure was a further blow to a Celtics team that has also lost Kristaps Porzingis and potentially Al Horford this summer. Therefore, the front court rotation looks incredibly thin.
Celtics’ Current Front Court is a Concern
The Celtics’ current center rotation consists of Neemias Queta, Luka Garza and Xavier Tillman. None of that trio has legitimate experience as a starter in the NBA. Furthermore, Queta, who is expected to earn the starting role, was the fourth-string center for the Celtics last season.
Queta is an impactful big man off the bench. However, his limited defense should be a concern. The high-energy rim-runner bites on every little fake, often fouls opposing shooters, and can be easily caught out of position when trying to defend the paint.
Of course, Garza and Tillman are also unproven commodities. So, unless Stevens adds a veteran big man to the rotation before the new season, Boston’s center position will be a tough watch for the next 12 months.
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