Celtics Receive Poor Offseason Grade From NBA Writer

Even before the Boston Celtics were eliminated by the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals, most fans knew the 2025 offseason would bring many roster changes.

Among the biggest losses this summer have been the departures of big men Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Kornet, as well as guard Jrue Holiday. Fan favorite and five-time All-Star center Al Horford also is all but gone, having been heavily connected to the Golden State Warriors, though he’s still technically a free agent.

As far as the newcomers, Boston selected 19-year-old shooting guard Hugo Gonzalez with the 28th overall pick during the NBA Draft and added high-scoring guard Anfernee Simons in the Holiday trade with the Portland Trail Blazers. The Celtics also brought in veteran power forward (and Massachusetts native) Georges Niang as a part of the Porzingis trade with the Atlanta Hawks.

With the NBA Summer League now in the rearview mirror, most of the group’s significant roster moves are likely done until the regular season and it’s time to assess the offseason.

ESPN’s Kevin Pelton graded all 30 teams’ offseasons Monday, and gave the Celtics a C.

“The upside is the Celtics managed to balance their books without giving up any future first-round picks, getting under the second apron with a plausible path to avoiding the tax altogether in a gap year following Jayson Tatum’s Achilles rupture,” Pelton wrote. “The downside is Boston shed a massive amount of talent, including everyone taller than 6-foot-8 who played at least 13 minutes in the 2025 playoffs. The Celtics will be challenged to replenish their frontcourt depth and, crucially, the versatility lost with Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis.”

In the midst of an 11-season streak of making the playoffs, including two NBA Finals appearances and one title, the Celtics’ run as an elite team could end during the 2025-26 campaign.

Boston still does have a healthy core of Derrick White, Jaylen Brown and Payton Pritchard, however, so it’s far too early to count out the Celtics.