Uncertainty looms as the Boston Celtics prepare for the 2025-26 campaign: Will Jayson Tatum return from his ruptured Achilles? Can Jaylen Brown lead the team to a top spot in the East? How different will the roster look after the trade deadline?
While all of those questions won’t be answered immediately, they’ll be significant as the season progresses. Boston’s new-look roster will certainly have lower expectations than in past seasons, but the team still has the pieces to surprise the league.
Brown and Derrick White will be expected to take steps forward, with Tatum likely to miss most, if not all, of the 2025-26 season. Furthermore, the team’s relatively unproven big men will need to produce, and more trades may be coming by the deadline in February.
MORE: Celtics analyst drops bold Jaylen Brown prediction ahead of 2025-26 season
Celtics predicted to compete for top spot in East
NBC Sports Boston’s staff recently revealed their midseason headline predictions for the team, with Adam Hart believing that the team’s “Winning DNA” will position the Celtics near the top of the East.
“Regular-season basketball is different, and this team will remain competitive for the top spot in the East,” he wrote.
The Eastern Conference is fairly wide open this season, though it’s hard to imagine that the Celtics will compete with the conference's best teams — especially the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks.
The team is lacking depth compared to previous seasons and will rely heavily on Brown, White, Anfernee Simons and Payton Pritchard to win games. Still, the Celtics have a great head coach in Joe Mazzulla and a history of winning.
Boston may need to continue reshaping its roster during the season, but it isn’t unrealistic to predict that the team will at least avoid the Play-In Tournament.
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