Xavier Tillman faces a crossroads season with Boston, needing to stay healthy and offer a real three-point threat to win a steady backup role behind the frontcourt. His defense remains elite on switches and in forcing turnovers, but his offensive game lacks a credible spacer or ball-handler, keeping him on the fringe when the Celtics rotate bigs.

With Horford, Kornet and Porzingis out of the mix, a clearer path should exist if Tillman can stay durable and develop a league-average jumper. This season may define whether he can become a functional two-way big or drift into limited backup minutes elsewhere.

Boston faces a potential gap year with Jayson Tatum sidelined, forcing a recalibration of goals. After unloading Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday and letting Luke Kornet slide, the front office is weighing whether one more move makes sense to balance development with cap flexibility.

The CLNS Media podcast hosts debate whether Boston should chase a late trade to upgrade the rotation or lean into the young core and cost control. Either path shapes fantasy value, rotation duties, and midseason buyouts or acquisitions.

Neemias Queta could push into Boston's starting five at center in 2025-26 as Horford departs and Kornet signs elsewhere. Porzingis’ praise after Queta’s EuroBasket showing—16 points, 7 rebounds in 19 minutes—signals trust and a real path to more minutes if Queta earns the job.

Luka Garza is another contender for minutes, and Porzingis’ remarks hint Queta remains the favorite. Boston’s depth chart drama suggests a fantasy sleeper, with Queta’s per-minute upside rising if he lands the opening role, especially in dynasty formats where long-term value matters.

Queta’s trajectory aligns with a Celtics’ push to develop youth while balancing experience. For fantasy managers, he’s a late-round lottery ticket with breakout potential if handed a starting workload, potentially elevating his DFS and roto value in the early season.

The Celtics are rebooting for 2025-26, trading Holiday and Porzingis and letting Luke Kornet walk as they lean into a youth-forward rebuild. Boston inked Luka Garza and Josh Minott and added Max Shulga, Amari Williams, and Hugo Gonzalez through the draft, signaling a season that could be about development and upside rather than immediate title contention. The question: how fast can the new faces knit into a cohesive, fantasy-friendly rotation?

Fantasy managers should monitor how Garza, Williams, Minott, Shulga, and Gonzalez absorb roles behind Tatum and Brown. If the youngsters progress quickly, Boston could surprise with breakout contributions in limited minutes, turning a “gap year” into meaningful late-season upside for dynasty and deep-league rosters.

Neemias Queta’s EuroBasket breakout—23 points, 18 boards, 2 steals, 4 blocks—highlights a rising Celtics center and a Portugal program on the rise. His performance fuels optimism about Boston’s frontcourt role this season as he pursues a starting opportunity after knee surgery and offseason losses at center.

Off the floor, Queta is tightening free throws, rolling, and finishing around the rim with Celtics mentors and a hands-on support crew. His Portugal arc, plus work with Ridley and Douglas, signals a path to bigger responsibilities in Boston while expanding his floor game and defensive impact.