NBA Notebook: The Celtics have a starting lineup that can help them compete this year

The Celtics enter next season with a roster almost completely unfamiliar from their past several championship runs. With three players who have logged a significant number of starts and a key reserve in Luke Kornet gone, they need to fill Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis' starting roles, along with the backup positions vacated by whoever steps into the starting lineup. Of course, Jayson Tatum will miss much of the 2025-26 season as well, if not the entire slate, opening the need for an additional wing. Only Jaylen Brown and Derrick White pencil in as automatic starters every night for this team. 

Joe Mazzulla does have a straightforward path to some continuity, however, by moving Payton Pritchard into the starting unit next to White, slotting Sam Hauser in place of Tatum and playing Neemias Queta at the five in his third season in Boston. Those five players surprisingly played a significant number of minutes, 54, making it the ninth-most used lineup by the Celtics during a regular season where they wanted to experiment more. The diverse array of skill sets they have in the unit is intriguing. You didn't see many sets like this from Boston last season. Across 13 games, Pritchard, White, Hauser, Brown and Queta posted an impressive 136.5 offensive rating, including a 69.1% assist rate and monstrous 45.2 OREB%, along with a 69.4 eFG%. They did, however, lose their minutes by 3.5 points per 100 possessions due to a 140.0 defensive rating, according to NBA data.

While that's hardly a substantive enough sample size to assess what should become a staple lineup, starter or not, for the Celtics this season, it does provide a snapshot into the reality for Boston this season. They'll almost always court players who haven't logged significant time together on the floor before, have enough offensive creation to remain competitive on that end, but by far lost the most on the defensive end, where Mazzulla's willingness to let Holiday and the team's veterans command and communicate changes on the fly in a complicated, read-based system give way into more mismatches for opponents to target, alongside greater responsibility on remaining players and the coaching staff to build defensive consistency, the rock which has consistently kept Boston among the most competitive teams in the league going back to Brad Stevens' tenure as head coach. 

The problems for Boston on that end start inside, where the Celtics have recently boasted a mix of size, athleticism, veteran savvy and elite positioning alongside strong communication skills to switch up coverages on the fly between Porziņģis, Robert Williams III, Al Horford and Kornet. Queta watched and learned from Porziņģis, Horford and Kornet, and has the tools to thrive on defense. That side often held him back, though, whether due to positional problems or an inability to deter strong drivers and pick-and-roll attacks. The Celtics experimented with letting him roam off an ineffective perimeter shooter rather than guarding the center straight-up, which could give rise to more double-big activity between Queta and incoming center Luka Garza, who will play a more traditional drop coverage. 

Queta can switch decently, which adds to the merits of that possibility along with this team likely needing help on the boards, though the Celtics might not have the depth to do so consistently. Only Amari Williams is behind Queta and Garza at the moment, and he hasn't even signed a two-way contract yet. He's poised to start the season in Maine when he does, based on his Summer League productivity. 

At guard, the Celtics will also struggle to switch as often and aggressively as they have in the past. Pritchard took strides playing up against larger players and more difficult matchups on his way to logging 28.4 minutes per game. He spoke often last year about taking pride in improving defensively, and it showed. White's prowess at the point of attack and rotating inside to deter players at the rim speaks for itself. It's hard to fathom how he missed the All-Defensive team with how often he appears at the top of analytic rankings for various defensive roles, but he does occasionally struggle with more physical primary creators and larger wings. 

Jalen Brunson tortured White in the Knicks series, and he's not as natural a switcher onto bigs like Karl-Anthony Towns as Holiday was throughout his two years in Boston. The Celtics will be returning to a more traditional defense this year, or getting more aggressive after hoping to create more turnovers going back several years. It showed on film with this lineup already, with risks they took on defense likely contributing to their lackluster rating on that end. Hauser and Brown give Boston some additional switching ability on the perimeter and size to mix up how they guard different matchups, too. 

Alongside forcing more turnovers, the Celtics will need to counter their weaknesses and offseason losses by turning up the heat on the offensive glass even further and running. This lineup didn't boast a strong pace (90.05, a flawed stat over a small sample). They do feature two primary creators in Brown and Pritchard who love to run, a strong trailing shooter in Hauser and a decently mobile big in Queta. White also plays a strong transition game, finishing in the 65th percentile during the playoffs for efficiency on the run (1.22 PPP). It's another risky proposition that'll ramp up their historically low turnover rate from the past few years. It's a necessary one, given how much talent they've given up. 

There'll be arguments for other lineups, and Mazzulla could assess which group he plays on the fly. Injuries are inevitable and could devastate this team, given the depth at guard and center in particular. It'll also give Baylor Scheierman and others more to say about the size of their role on this team than we're currently envisioning. There's also a case to start Anfernee SImons over Pritchard, given the former's potentially lethal ability as a shooter playing off other creators and the latter's success leading the second unit last year. Boston will need to find ways to stagger success into its second units, and that might be what they settle on, though Simons proved negatively impactful on the defensive end in Portland even as the team emerged as a top defense late in the year. Georges Niang has a less convincing case to start, though it could allow the Celtics to play more wing-heavy.

Continuity will be king if Boston wants to prove more competitive than many expect them to this season. Pritchard, White, Hauser, Brown and Queta were also teammates in 2023-24, and played 13 minutes across five games together with a 135.7 offensive rating. That group's passing and rebounding numbers closely resembled what they put up the following year, and they defended in them (96.6 def. rating), albeit over a limited sample. 

The gaps Tatum's injury creates alone are massive. He rebounded, created offensive gravity, defended multiple positions, shot from every level and boasted the availability that made him a perennial MVP candidate just outside of the top contenders. For whatever consternation there is over him not matching that next level of candidates, the Celtics will feel his absence for the first time in his career -- as will fans inside and outside of Boston. Mazzulla will need a creative season for Boston to defy expectations. The best bet, lineup-wise, is staring him in the face. He praised Queta's high ceiling while coaching him tough, complimented Pritchard and Hauser's defense while the franchise held onto Brown and White despite great attempts by rivals to pull them away from Boston this past summer. They hold the key to keeping this team together through the gap year. 

“My expectations are always the same," Brad Stevens said last month. "Compete like hell to win the next game. That's always going to be it, that will always be it, and that's the way that we're going to try to put our foot forward. We've got some new guys. We've got some guys that will have to take on extra in their roles, but we believe in the guys that have been in the building, and we look forward to getting the guys that haven't and all working together to try to create a team that functions well together and plays hard as hell. That'll be it. I've said many times, the North Star, for me, is winning championships. And this is, without question – when you trade guys like Jrue and KP, there's some retooling going on. But, the one thing that, when I was coaching, when the term rebuild came up, I thought it was a crazy term. None of us were here before, so it should be build, right? You're always building and growing towards something. And for this group, we've got so many guys back that are really good players that, that's not going to be part of the lexicon in our building, and that's the way we're going to focus moving forward.”

Here's what else happened around the NBA this week...

Boston: Officially signed Max Shulga to their second of three two-way roster spots, with fellow second-round pick Amari Williams expected to follow. The Celtics have also reportedly signed Hayden Grey, Jalen Bridges and Aaron Scott to Exhibit 10 training camp deals. That places their offseason roster at 20 out of the possible 21 players you can take to camp. Neemias Queta underwent left knee surgery this summer and is expected to fully recover in time for EuroBasket this month, where he'll compete for Portugal. Ben Simmons is expected to make a decision on his next team soon, per Ian Begley, and has been connected to the Celtics, Knicks and Kings by various reports. Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca, who fell short in his bid to buy control of the Celtics, agreed to purchase the WNBA Connecticut Sun and could move them to Boston in TD Garden by 2027.

Brooklyn: Hesitant to re-sign Cam Thomas on a long-term contract as his restricted free agency remains stalled. The Nets' offers have hovered around two years, $28 million with a second-year team option. Thomas is reportedly seeking a contract worth around $20 million annually, like fellow restricted free agents Jonathan Kuminga and Josh Giddey, who have struggled in negotiations with their teams too. All three have the option to sign their qualifying offers, though that would limit them to $7-11 million in salaries for one year. It does, however, come with a no-trade clause. The Nets signed Ricky Council IV as they begin filling out their roster. He was recently waived by the 76ers. 

Chicago: Ayo Dosunmu is expected to fully participate in training camp after missing most of last season with a shoulder injury. International teams are reportedly eyeing NIkola Vučević's availability following reports that he could receive a buyout sometime next season after trade talks haven't gone anywhere. Josh Giddey and the Bulls have mutual interest in coming to a long-term deal as his restricted free agency continues, but he and the team are $8-10 million apart in average annual value. Executives polled by The Athletic settled on his value ranging from $20-25 million. Chicago and head coach Billy Donovan agreed to a long-term contract extension following an attempt by the Knicks to lure him from the Bulls earlier this offseason. Donovan, 60, is 195-205 with one playoff appearance over five seasons since joining the team from Oklahoma City. 

Dallas/Lakers: Luka Dončić signed a three-year, $165 million extension with the Lakers that'll keep him out of free agency next summer and allow him to recover the super max he lost when Dallas traded him with a five-year, $417 million agreement in 2028, according to Shams Charania. The Dončić trade saga turned the page into its second season with a Men's Health feature on Dončić's weight loss following a turbulent season where his infamous trade from the Mavericks was motivated in part by his playing shape. Dončić has stuck to a a gluten-free, low-sugar diet that includes at least 250 grams of protein and one almond milk–fueled shake a day, according to the profile, as he prepares for EuroBasket with Slovenia. He blamed limited offseason guidance and his inability to formulate a good diet in-season as part of his early career struggles with health. The profile also describes Team Luka, Maček and Javier Barrio alongside Lucia Almendros, who joined Dallas in 2023. It's a wellness group he aims to expand on going forward, while the Lakers will potentially benefit from whatever motivation the Mavericks trade gave the star. On the other side of the deal, Zach Lowe mentioned that there was little disappointment between Anthony Davis and Rich Paul landing in Dallas, as it was on their radar already. 

Golden State: Jonathan Kuminga has rejected a two-year, 45 million offer from the Warriors as he and the team remain in a stalemate over his restricted free agency and future. Golden State has insisted on waiving the implied no-trade clause the contract includes, since he'd lose his Bird rights in a trade, and a second-year team option. Kuminga posted about betting on himself in an Instagram story, but there's no indication he'll take the qualifying offer yet that would grant him unrestricted free agency next summer and that no-trade clause. His camp presented the Warriors a three-year, $82 million construct that worked in the team's cap favor, per ESPN, during Summer League. Golden State, instead, continued to field sign-and-trade talks with the Kings and Suns that now appear to be waning as the team focuses on maximizing its leverage. Phoenix has reportedly been most aggressive in offering Kuminga salary in a sign-and-trade, while Sacramento reportedly added Malik Monk to its Devin Carter and Dario Šarić package. The Warriors had held out on returning a first-round pick in any deal. Kuminga has until Oct. 1 to sign the qualifying offer ($7.9M). Meanwhile, Golden State's pursuit of Al Horford, De'Anthony Melton and Seth Curry is stuck while they await the financial implications of any Kuminga outcome. 

Clippers: The Clippers rolled out the red carpet to welcome Chris Paul back to LA as he prepares to play a smaller role than he has in recent years with his former team. Law Murray noted that he expects Paul to play off the bench this season. Paul, who originally seemed poised to retire after 2026, did not rule out playing longer after joining the Clippers in a conversation with ESPN. It's unlikely LeBron James would join him after next season, unless it's in retirement, despite a provocative post working out at a Klutch facility surrounded by Clippers logos in LA this week as a weird offseason between James and the Lakers continues. 

Miami: Declined a Terry Rozier-Marcus Smart swap with the Wizards because they didn't view Smart as a clear upgrade, per multiple reports, and would've needed to attach draft picks to Rozier to move off his larger expiring contract. Washington ultimately waived Smart last month and allowed him to join the Lakers on a two-year deal in free agency. A federal investigation continues into Rozier's activity with the Charlotte Hornets related to increased betting activity on a March 2023 game. He hasn't been charged or accused of any wrongdoing. Mikal Bridges' Knicks extension could set the market for Tyler Herro's ask from the Heat, which could top $40 million annually. He has two years, $64 million left on his current deal before hitting free agency in 2027. 

New Orleans: Former Celtic Jaden Springer signed an Exhibit 9, training camp contract with the Pelicans after the Jazz waived him last week. New Orleans has 14 players under contract and three two-way contracts, setting up an uphill battle for Springer to make the team outright, though Dejounte Murray will likely miss most, if not all, of the 2025-26 season after tearing his Achilles late last year. Jordan Poole, Herb Jones, rookie Jeremiah Fears, Jose Alvarado and Jordan Hawkins will take on those backcourt minutes. Second-round pick Micah Peavy and two-way guards Bryce McGowens and Trey Alexander also stand in front of Springer, who might have to return to the G-League after struggling to shoot between Boston and Utah last season. An Exhibit 9 deal provides injury protections to the team throughout training camp, rather than the guaranteed Exhibit 10. 

New York: Signed Mikal Bridges to a four-year, $150 million extension with a trade kicker and player option in the fourth year ahead of his final season playing under a contract he originally signed with the Suns. Bridges will make a $37.5 million average annual salary beginning in 2026-27, leaving $6 million off his max extension to provide the Knicks flexibility at the end of the roster. New York traded five first-round picks, a pick swap, Bojan Bogdanović and several other minimum contracts to the Nets for Bridges last summer, initially planning to reunite him with former Villanova teammates Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo. The Knicks later traded DiVincenzo to Minnesota as part of the Karl-Anthony Towns deal and Bridges struggled to fit in offensively, but his iron man streak and heavy minutes workload continued and he made the critical defensive plays late in Games 1-2 that set up an upset over the Celtics and the team's first East Finals appearance since 2000. He averaged 17.6 PPG, 3.2 RPG and 3.7 APG on 50% shooting (35.4% 3PT) while logging 37 minutes per game. In the playoffs, he fell to 45.6% shooting and 33.3% from three, his struggles cited as a reason the team moved on from Tom Thibodeau. Bridges is ineligible to be traded for six months following the extension. New York now has its starting lineup under contract through 2027-28, when Towns has a player option. 

Phoenix: A potential dealbreaker in Suns-Warriors Jonathan Kuminga talks -- second-year wing Ryan Dunn -- hasn't been made available in sign-and-trade negotiations. Dunn emerged as an intriguing defensive wing despite shooting only 31.1% from three in his rookie season. Dillon Brooks hasn't featured prominently in talks either, with both sides preferring to stay away from that, as the Suns have floated Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale and Nick Richards instead, without the future draft capital to get a deal done. 

Portland: Introduced Jrue Holiday for the first time since his trade to the Trail Blazers. He expressed excitement to be back with the Blazers, who he joined for several days following the Damian Lillard trade to Milwaukee in 2023, before Portland flipped Holiday to Boston. Holiday also appreciated the heads-up he received from Brad Stevens, who had already explained to Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis that they could be moved this summer for cap purposes. Holiday expects to fit into a versatile on-court role and mentorship one for the team's young players off it. Chauncey Billups and he have already had discussions about game plan, a head coach he's long admired. He also said he's long wanted to play with Damian Lillard, who he rented his former house to in Milwaukee while Lillard played there, drawing quips from Lillard about Holiday's WiFi. Boston still hasn't introduced Anfernee Simons, who's been seen at the Celtics' facility since the trade's completion. 

“I can just be me,” Holiday said. “I don’t really know how to do anything else. Just come here and be the person that I’ve always been and try not to just help out as much as possible, but try to win. Obviously, with the organization and the coaching staff, they have a great coaching staff, Hall-of-Fame coach in Chauncey, but I think as a current player, who’s won, been through the struggle not too long ago to win a championship, I still have that feeling and that itch, so I’m closer to what that feeling is like and how hard it is to actually win.”

Sacramento: Increased their offer for Jonathan Kuminga to a three-year, $63 million contract in a proposal that would send veteran guard Malik Monk and their 2030 first-round pick (lottery protected) to the Warriors, according to The Athletic. The Warriors have held out for an unprotected first, and with the Kings owning their draft capital and having young players like Keon Ellis, Devin Carter and medium-sized contracts to fit into deals, this still feels like the best bet for a Kuminga destination eventually. Even if it's down the line. 

Toronto: Former Raptors head coach Dwane Casey is in the mix to replace Masai Ujiri as the head of the Raptors' basketball operations, according to the Detroit Free-Press. Casey has spent several seasons in the Pistons' front office between Trajan Langdon and Troy Weaver's tenures since Casey stepped down as Pistons head coach following 2022-23. He coached in Toronto between 2011-18, winning Coach of the Year in 2018 before he was let go. Current GM Bobby Webster is also seen as a strong candidate.