Jayson Tatum’s ruptured Achilles upends Boston’s 2025-26 outlook, forcing Jaylen Brown into a heavier, potentially closing role while the supporting cast must step up. With Porzingis gone to Atlanta and key veterans moved on, Boston’s depth is thinner, making Brown’s efficiency and durability crucial for any playoff push. The Celtics will lean on youth and new pieces to fill the scoring and defense gaps, turning Brown into the focal point of a reshaped offense.

Boston must balance Brown’s expanded role with improved defense and rebounding from newcomers like Chris Boucher and RJ Luis Jr. If the rotation coheres and protect-the-glass effort rises, the Celtics can still contend for a postseason berth, though the path is narrow without a second high-end scorer beside Brown.

Two of the NBA’s all-time big men, Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Garnett, are weighed by Jeff Teague on Club 520. The debate pits Nowitzki’s floor-stretching scoring against Garnett’s MVP-winning defense and versatility, arguing that value hinges on era, scheme, and context, not just rings.

For fantasy, Nowitzki’s offensive gravity can lift scoring-heavy leagues, while Garnett’s multi-category impact—defense, assists, durability—often shines in balanced formats. The takeaway: pedigree matters, but surrounding framework shapes true fantasy value across eras.