Boston Celtics Face Eastern Conference Rebuild After Key Departures

The Boston Celtics are expected to struggle in the 2025-26 NBA season after parting ways with several key players from their 2024 championship run, including Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kornet, Jrue Holiday, and potentially Al Horford, resulting in concerns about their competitiveness and roster depth. A major weakness is their center rotation, now considered one of the worst in the league, composed of Chris Boucher, Neemias Queta, and Luke Garza, which could jeopardize their playoff chances; notably, they chose not to sign promising Summer League standout Charles Bassey, a decision that may be regretted. The Celtics are also focused on developing a young core around Jaylen Brown but face challenges due to salary cap constraints that led to the breakup of their championship roster, with veteran Grant Williams, a former Celtic, now with the Charlotte Hornets and unlikely to return. Additionally, the team waived forward Miles Norris to clear space for new signings, with Norris moving to play for Barcelona, while Georges Niang's offseason was disrupted by multiple trades, preventing him from participating in international competition for Senegal. Overall, the Celtics appear headed for a rebuilding phase with an uncertain immediate future, as financial and roster decisions have left them vulnerable in key positions.