Where Celtics Stand in ESPN’s ‘Way-Too-Early’ NBA Power Rankings For 2025-26

The Oklahoma City Thunder usurped the Boston Celtics’ crown and won the NBA Finals on Sunday night. As the franchise celebrates its title, analysts are already looking ahead to next season.

Following a 61-win campaign, the Celtics must regroup without Jayson Tatum in 2025-26. The superstar tore his Achilles during an Eastern Conference semifinals loss to the New York Knicks and will miss the entire campaign.

Tatum’s injury naturally casts a pall over the upcoming season. ESPN provided an initial glance at how the NBA community feels about Boston without him.

Right after Oklahoma City’s Game 7 victory over the Indiana Pacers, ESPN.com published its “way-too-early” power rankings for 2025-26. The Celtics rank No. 12, with Tim Bontemps setting the stage for a pivotal offseason.

“In the wake of Jayson Tatum’s Achilles tear, there are few teams with a more consequential offseason in front of them than Boston,” Bontempts wrote. “The current roster puts the team $23 million over the second apron, and shedding salary could happen in multiple moves. The Celtics have to decide which direction they want to go with a roster that won a championship in 2024 and will most likely look different next season.”

The Thunder understandably received the top spot after winning the championship. The Cleveland Cavaliers (No. 4) are the only Eastern Conference team inside the top five, and the Pacers could fall from No. 6 depending on the severity of Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles injury.

Even without Tatum, the Celtics are fifth among all East teams. Yet that could change if they treat next season as a “retooling year“, as ESPN insider Shams Charania suggested.

Veterans such as Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis may not return as the front office contemplates the organization’s future direction. However, Boston could still avoid its first losing record since 2014-15.