The Boston Celtics are gearing up to move past a disappointing summer as training camp nears, though they'll be without superstar Jayson Tatum for the foreseeable future.
Tatum tore his Achilles tendon in the Eastern Conference semifinals and is expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2025-26 campaign. Following the star forward's devastating injury, the Celtics traded Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis to avoid harsh second-apron penalties. Now, the team faces a gap year as it retools for the 2026-27 campaign.
Boston managed to maneuver under the second apron through a series of cost-cutting moves. However, the franchise's chances to contend remain in question beyond the 2025-26 campaign.
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NBA analyst questions Celtics’ title chances
Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report recently compiled a list of 10 hot takes from the 2025 NBA offseason, predicting that the Celtics won't reach another NBA Finals with Tatum as their best player.
“Boston had loads of deep playoff runs with Tatum at the forefront, and it won a title in 2024,” he wrote. “Another one won't arrive until long after Tatum is either gone or reduced to second-option status.”
While bold, Hughes’ take has a clear rationale. It's uncertain whether Tatum will return to the level he played at before the Achilles tear.
Tatum and Jaylen Brown are set to combine for well over $120 million in each of the next four seasons. By 2027-28, Tatum, Brown and Derrick White will make a combined $166.9 million annually, potentially limiting Boston's ability to add more star talent.
The Celtics may explore trading one of these core players in the future, and their current outlook raises questions about their ability to contend in the years ahead.
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