The Boston Celtics reshaped their roster in headline-grabbing ways this summer. But plenty of questions remain about Boston’s frontcourt and how the rotation will settle.
Against that backdrop, Boston’s 2024 recommitment to Xavier Tillman looks more interesting as training camp approaches. With the frontcourt in flux, CelticsBlog’s Nate Moskowitz argues there’s a credible path back into the rotation — if he can fix one thing.
The Horford Blueprint Boston Wanted
At his best, Tillman brings playoff-credible defense. Communication is a strength, keeping teammates aligned. His ability to switch and adjust makes him valuable across matchups. Positioning and anticipation tighten possessions and elevate team schemes. He battles size on the block, but can also move his feet against guards. Reading actions early, he shrinks driving lanes before they open.
That’s the Al Horford-adjacent blueprint fans once imagined when they cast him as a potential heir apparent. Not a pure rim eraser, but a high-IQ connector who makes the five-man unit smarter.
The metrics have reflected that ceiling in prior seasons. Tillman has graded out as an impact defender and one of the better turnover-forcing bigs in the league. It’s the product of timing, angles, and quick hands more than vertical pop. That profile holds up in playoff minutes. It also fits how Boston wants to defend.
Tillman’s Celtics Career So Far
But the version Boston envisioned has been hard to find. Two uneven years in green were defined by knee swelling and stop-start availability. That capped rhythm and opportunity. Minutes fluctuated. He slipped behind Neemias Queta in the pecking order despite earlier trust.
When he did play, it was often in two-big lineups that struggled for spacing. That created a feedback loop where limited minutes led to limited impact — and back again.
This season is, by design or necessity, an evaluation window. With Horford, Kristaps Porzingis, and Luke Kornet gone, there are minutes available. Boston needs a defender who can toggle coverages and hold lineups together without touches. With one year left at roughly $2.5 million, the evaluation window is clear. The identity fit is obvious: switch-ready, scheme-smart, low-usage.
Still, Tillman’s most memorable Celtics moment likely came in Game 3 of the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks. He stacked strong defensive possessions. He buried a timely corner three near the end of the third quarter. If he can recapture that, it bodes well for his future in green.
The Future of Boston’s Frontcourt
Boston has options — and questions — up front. Chris Boucher brings veteran reliability and pick-and-pop spacing. Queta offers size, rim pressure, and elite rebounding. Luka Garza supplies second-unit scoring punch and offensive glass work. Rookie Amari Williams is the developmental swing with tools to grow into a rotation role.
That mix gives Joe Mazzulla different looks. But it also tightens the competition. Tillman will have to win minutes with defense first. The deciding factor will be his shot-making.
Moskowitz suggests: “His best chance to carve out a role is by proving that his jump shot is real, and something defenses need to respect.”
If he checks that box, there’s a path. Dependable minutes. A steadier second unit. The ability for Boston to toggle between size and switchability without sacrificing spacing. In a season where flexibility matters as much as star power, an in-house, low-cost solution could be exactly how the Celtics settle the post-Horford frontcourt.
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