The Celtics are weighing a tanking scenario for next season after a summer of cap-light departures and the hunt for cost-controlled depth. Boston trimmed payroll to dodge the second luxury tax apron while bringing in Luka Garza and Josh Minott to plug holes, and the core of Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard remains in the rotation. Depth in the frontcourt is a concern, which could temper the team’s ceiling on defense if the bench can’t hold up.

A recent Above The Banners episode floated the idea of surrendering competitiveness for a lottery ticket in a 2026 class poised to be strong. Selling Mazzulla and the Celtics’ core on that plan would be tough, but the arithmetic of tax lines and rebuild timelines makes it plausible to consider a longer view. Whether Boston actually commits to a tank or not, the roster shift and development of Garza and Minott will shape fantasy angles all season long.

Even if tanking remains unlikely, fantasy managers should watch how Garza’s frontcourt timeline unfolds and how Minott’s wingspan translates to minutes. With Brown, White, and Pritchard as anchors, upside may hinge on the new pieces maturing quickly and the defense holding up as depth evolves, yielding interesting mid-to-late round opportunities.