The Boston Celtics have been freshly derided as one of the top four free agency losers this summer by Sportsnet.ca's Zulfi Sheikh in an epic new article.
Boston's free agent run was a bit fraught by some off-the-court elements. New owner William Chisholm was clearly reticent to fork over the money necessary to fund what would have been an historically expensive payroll. With six-time All-Star power forward Jayson Tatum likely set to miss most or all of 2025-26 while recovering from an Achilles tendon tear, the Celtics were unlikely to compete for a title even if the team had retained Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis.
Instead, Boston flipped Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers for two second round picks and guard Anfernee Simons, and moved Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks as part of a three-team deal with the Brooklyn Nets. The Celtics brought back a second round pick and forward Georges Niang in the deal.
Reserve center Luke Kornet left in free agency to sign with the San Antonio Spurs, while backup big man Al Horford seems to be circling some Western Conference teams for his next destination.
"In the span of a year, Boston has essentially lost three starters and almost all of its frontcourt depth," Sheikh observes. "While moves seemed inevitable after Jayson Tatum's injury and the financial penalties the Celtics were set to incur, it's quite the jarring shake-up nonetheless."
The Celtics signed former Minnesota Timberwolves center Luka Garza in part to replace the club's departed bigs.
The absence of Porzingis, Kornet and probably Horford "leaves Beantown quite barren at the five, unless you believe in a rotation of the recently signed Luka Garza, Neemias Queta and Xavier Tillman," Sheikh notes.