The path to the NBA Finals through the Eastern Conference is seemingly getting easier and easier, and one writer believes the Boston Celtics may have an outside chance to successfully traverse that path in 2025-26.
The Athletic's Eric Koreen went through the conference and categorized each team based on their ability to contend. There were eight tiers, and the Celtics were placed into the fourth tier: "Gap year," along with the Indiana Pacers.
While acknowledging that the Celtics are certainly not expected to be full-strength with Jayson Tatum expected to miss most of the 2025-26 season as he recovers from a torn Achilles, as well as the trades they have made to shed Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis' salaries, Koreen did not rule out the possibility of the team (and/or the Pacers) still being competitive in the weaker Eastern Conference.
"Here’s a bet: One of these two teams will finish in the top six in the East next year," Koreen wrote. "Sure, the Celtics will be without two-thirds of the six-man core that led them to a title two seasons ago if Al Horford leaves. Yes, Indiana lost Myles Turner, and has no obvious way to replace him now or next year. Still, both teams know who they are and how they want to play. Pencil them in below .500 at your own peril."
MORE: NBA Writer lists Bucks as could-be contender in East
The Celtics were still able to salvage some value from the aforementioned departures, namely Anfernee Simons and Georges Niang. They also acquired Luka Garza and Josh Minott through free agency and drafted Hugo Gonzalez in the first round.
It may not seem like much, but a core of Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Simons, Niang, Payton Pritchard, and Sam Hauser is still respectable. Should Garza and the other bigs on the roster (Neemias Queta, Xavier Tillman) provide a decent inside presence, the Celtics could find themselves fairly high in the standings.
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