After falling short of securing back-to-back championships, the Boston Celtics' roster has gone through a noticeable makeover. As they prepare for what could be a gap year, one analyst opened up on competitors already jumping ahead of them in the Eastern Conference.
Through the early weeks of the summer, one shocking team that has made drastic upgrades is the Atlanta Hawks. Armed with a mix of veterans and young talent, they're ready to try and climb the ranks. Following their latest addition, they've received high praise for their strong start to the offseason.
While on ESPN's Get Up Tuesday, NBA insider Tim Bontemps touched on some of the biggest winners in free agency. He went with the Hawks, dubbing them a top-four team in the East now.
"The Hawks have gotten a bunch of guys who want to be there," Bontemps said. "Who have shooting, perimeter defense. This is a team I think is now top four in the East. Better than the Celtics, better than the Milwaukee Bucks. Atlanta is on the rise in the East."
.@TimBontemps says the Hawks are better than the Celtics and Bucks after yesterday's free agent moves 👀 pic.twitter.com/Cu1G8gOQG3
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) July 1, 2025
The Celtics of course helped the Hawks get better this summer, trading them former All-Star Kristaps Porzingis. Along with this addition, Atlanta was also able to pry Nickeil Alexander-Walker away from the Minnesota Timberwolves in free agency. With an abundance of length and athleticism around Trae Young, the Hawks are poised to make some noise in 2026.
With Jayson Tatum set to miss extended time next season. the Celtics likely don't have their sights set on contention. However, when they're ready to re-enter the conversation, they'll now have another talented team to worry about in the conference.