The Celtics face a recalibration after trading Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis to trim payroll under the second apron, replacing them with Luka Garza and Josh Minott. Boston isn’t aiming for a full rebuild, but the roster shift signals a tighter ceiling. A CLNS Media discussion frames Boston as unlikely to finish at the Eastern Conference’s very top yet not destined for a total tank, positioning them somewhere in the middle as the 2025-26 season unfolds.

Key constants remain: Jaylen Brown and Derrick White anchor the lineup, with Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser providing floor spacing and depth. The hypothetical addition of Anfernee Simons and the impact of Garza and Minott on rotations inject uncertainty, balancing veteran reliability with youth upside. Overall, Boston projects to hover between the East’s elite and its fringe, pending development and cohesion from the new pieces.