NBA Notebook: 10 biggest questions for the Celtics on media day

The Celtics begin training camp on Monday with media day, where most of the roster and Joe Mazzulla will address reporters ahead of four practices leading up to the team's preseason opener in Memphis on Oct. 8, one week from Wednesday. Aside from Jayson Tatum, the team is fully healthy, and filled all 21 offseason roster spots with four training camp invites expected to create some competition at the back end of the roster. Boston also has a standard roster spot available, though with the team in the luxury tax and having historically waited until the end of the regular season to fill it, it's unlikely that anyone will come out of the preseason with a full guarantee. 

Here's what to watch for from the Auerbach Center to begin this week. 

1. Jayson Tatum speaks after press tour: Jayson Tatum should address reporters in his first press conference since tearing his Achilles in May. First, he went on a press blitz last week to promote a pharmaceutical and remind the NBA world that he's still here -- and hasn't ruled out playing in the 2025-26 season. He did a 20-minute on-court workout last week, and Brad Stevens affirmed that he's on the right track while both stressed Tatum won't play until he's 100%. Tatum's father, Justin, told ESPN in May that he expected to miss 8-9 months, which would bring him to January or February, while a traditional recovery timeline would push him closer to the end of the regular season in March or April. He'll need some runway to return to form, and getting into some game action before the year ends could prove beneficial to rebuilding confidence. A long recovery process still awaits him, but with Tatum alluding to having a date in mind where he envisions returning, it'll be intriguing to hear where his confidence stems from only four months removed from surgery. 

2. Anfernee Simons speaks for the first time as a Celtic: Aside from an NBA-produced workout video, Anfernee Simons hasn't spoken to the media or made any appearances for the team since his acquisition. The Celtics' interest in moving him again became widely reported after he landed in Boston in the Jrue Holiday trade. Simons' reaction to that, expectations over his role and where he stands in his still relatively young career will all emerge from media day as a significant storyline. He's spent most of the summer in Boston's facility and received positive marks for his work with the team so far, and should prove a compelling fit in Joe Mazzulla's offense. The defensive end is the question. He's working with Celtics assistant Ross McMains this year, who oversaw Tatum's workouts last season.  

3. Starting lineup: Mazzulla inevitably won't announce a starting unit, and has expressed a willingness to mix-and-match throughout his coaching tenure. This team begins the season with as much intrigue over who will claim significant roles as any in recent team history, particularly in the front court with three centers gone and Tatum injured. Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and at least one center led by Neemias Queta should become nightly shoo-ins, while there's a tradeoff between Simons and Payton Pritchard, along with Sam Hauser and double-big looks. Chris Boucher should receive a strong look to start, while wings Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman and Josh Minott could be wild card options to provide lineup balance and move starting-level talent to the second unit. That's the only case for not starting Pritchard after his breakout season, along with his comfort. Pritchard told CelticsBlog last month that he has no preference over starting or not. 

4. Jaylen Brown's mindset: Brown will speak as the Celtics' leader about his active offseason, where he wants to grow this year and his approach to maintaining the team through Tatum's absence early this season. He's long advocated for his ability to set the tone for a team while mentioning how he's needed to sacrifice to win with Boston, and how much he embraces that opportunity to do more as part of this season should partially reveal his approach to 2025-26. The Celtics need him to do more, while also leaning on the talented playmakers left around him like White and Pritchard. His role will also change some, playing in the front court more often, needing to crash the glass and likely take more threes. 

“Just be who I am,” Brown said on the topic after Celtics-Knicks Game 5 in May. “I think that’s it. Be myself, come out, be aggressive and get it done in multiple ways. It’s a team. We’ve always been a team. I’ve always preached team. I’ve done whatever to push this team forward. So whatever’s needed of me, I’m excited to be able to facilitate in any role. It could change each game, each night, defensively, offensively, but the goal is to just lead, just be myself.”

5. Joe Mazzulla's approach: Mazzulla kept a low profile this summer, signing an extension and traveling the world to gain perspective from coaches and others, Stevens noted earlier this summer. He'll inevitably field questions about how the Celtics will adjust their play style, accounting for new personnel, something Stevens stressed will need to happen multiple times in interviews this offseason. Mazzulla and his staff have done it before, particularly during the offseason overhaul between 2023 and 2024, and it amounted to a championship. This year, development, pace, and half-court activity will become necessary to account for Tatum's loss, less proven talent and pressure Brown will face at the point of attack. Boston needs to play to Brown's strengths, given the differences in his game versus Tatum's. How Mazzulla is approaching this year from a mentality standpoint will surely capture headlines as well. 

"Everyone's just excited in general," Luka Garza said in July. "Excited for where we are. We've kind of been the hunted for a long time, and now we can be the hunter and go after teams. Obviously, there's so much opportunity in the east just with everything going on." 

6. New characters emerging: The Celtics have eight new players between their active roster and two-way spots. Between veteran leader Al Horford departing and strong personalities like Kristaps Porziņģis and Luke Kornet leaving, there'll be some hunger among the fan base to find new personalities to latch onto. Look for Minott to fill much of that, especially if he emerges in a spot front-court energy role similar to the one Oshae Brissett filled in 2024. He'll also undoubtedly lead the team in swearing during interviews this year, based on his first interview in Vegas. Scheierman is an obvious candidate to play and talk more. Hugo González' youth and acclimation to Boston should excite fans as well. Garza's hustle could make him a fan favorite while it struck Queta that he's now one of the team's veterans now after offseason departures, particularly at his center position. Look for Pritchard to shock with how much he embraces a leadership role, with the signs already there last year during his Sixth Man of the Year campaign. 

7. Xavier Tillman Sr.'s health: Tillman Sr. returned for the second of his two-year contract he signed in 2024 following an impactful role in the Finals that summer. Then, after beginning the 2024-25 season in the rotation with Porziņģis out, he fell out of favor and rarely appeared in games after November last fall. Tillman said later in the year that he felt good after surgery to address knee swelling he battled upon arrival at the 2024 deadline, but he missed games with a left knee joint sprain late in the schedule. Stevens listed him as part of the dynamic to get by at center this year, but it's understandable why many might forget about him to begin camp until he emerges as a contributor again. His defensive versatility, when he's right, could put him back in the front-court conversation. But he needs to find a role offensively. 

8. Best bet among the young players: Numerous prospects on the Celtics roster who haven't had opportunities to play early in their career should receive significant playing time this year. Starting with Walsh, who's entering year three with a small contract guarantee on opening night, this season could become his last chance to prove he's an NBA contributor with the Celtics. Scheierman, González and Minott present significant competition at the wing position, with fewer minutes available if Boston plays more double-big than wing-heavy lineups. Scheierman stands out for his strong finish to last regular season, Minott might need to become part of the team's approach to patching together rim protection with no clear answer there for the defense yet while Garza has touted the chance to play more in Boston and show what he wasn't able to with Detroit and Minnesota to begin his career. 

9. How the team plans to use Chris Boucher: Boucher signed in August after the Georges Niang salary dump on a minimum contract that might've gone overlooked. It was an important one at the position the Celtics lacked most with Tatum out. While Boucher isn't Tatum, he shoots threes efficiently, rebounds and can defend bigger players with the ability to shift between the four and center. With Queta seemingly the favorite to start inside given his experience in the Celtics system, whether Boston views him as more of a perimeter player or returning to center in smaller looks will determine many of the rotation questions for this team. Boucher could also benefit from a bigger opportunity having posted 18.0 points and 10.4 rebounds per 36 minutes in 406 games with the Raptors where he only appeared for 17 minutes per night. 

10. What more can White do: As the most proven commodity in his role, White's 2026 role received perhaps the least discussion with more focus on what Brown and Pritchard can do in Tatum's place. Yet when White's taken more shots and playmaking responsibility, he's played like a star in moments. He and Pritchard combined for the most threes in a game by Celtics teammates in a 41-point showing where White finished 9-for-17 from three. He's scored 30 points five times in his career, and 25 points 27 times. After another leap in 2025, he's now averaging 16.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5.4 assists on 46.2% shooting (38.8% 3PT) when playing 30-39 minutes, with a bump to 19.6 PPG, 5.0 RPG and 6.0 APG when crossing 40 minutes, though his efficiency dipped to 42.5% FG (36% 3PT). Like Brown and Pritchard, White will face more direct defensive pressure this season. 

Honorable mention: How will this defense work? The Celtics have spent seven of the last eight seasons finishing in the top-six of NBA team defensive ratings. The one year they dropped out of the top-10, in 2020-21, they finished .500 and lost in the first round. Boston lost Horford, the fixture in their defense for all but two of those years, and Tatum, who guarded every position and keyed their switching scheme. Brown, strong on the ball but aloof off-ball, Queta, a shot-blocker still trying to consistently get in the right positions on defense and wings who will often defend up in position all have to make strides and commitment to that end while Mazzulla will likely need to compromise on his expectation to never foul and play disciplined, rather than aggressive defense over the past three seasons. The Celtics have created some of the fewest turnovers among NBA teams this year, playing to their offensive strength of rarely giving the ball away. With the offensive number likely to tick up this season, they'll need to steal the ball from opponents more often too. 

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

Boston: Jayson Tatum showed off his on-court work for the first time since his Achilles tear, going on a media tour last week to stress that he hasn't ruled out playing this season, though he's focused on getting to 100%. Signed Wendell Moore Jr., the former Duke wing who went 26th overall to the Mavs in the 2022 draft. Moore landed with the Timberwolves in a series of draft night trades, spent two seasons there before a brief Detroit stint and two-way with the Hornets in 2025. He played for the Magic in Summer League, averaging 13.8 PPG and 6.8 RPG despite shooting 44% from the field and 28.6% from three. He's a career 2.3 PPG, 1.4 RPG and 46% FG (25% 3PT) in the NBA (90 G) and 19.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG and 4.8 APG in G-League regular season games. He joins Kendall Brown, Ron Harper Jr. and Jalen Bridges at Celtics training camp, with all four eligible for two-way deals if Boston decides one of them out-plays RJ Luis Jr. in the preseason. Celtics training camp begins on Monday with media day at 10:15 a.m. EST. Bill Chisholm and his new ownership group addressed the media for the first time on Thursday, addressing spending, the group's structure, arena plans and their desire to bring the WNBA to Boston.

“Let’s go for it, but let’s do it in a reasonable way,” Chisholm said. “My goal and my high-level direction for Brad and the team was let’s do whatever we can to win championships and raise banners and raise as many as we can both in the near term, but also in the medium-to-long term as well. So definitely taking that approach and the flexibility that Brad talks about, I think that’s paramount to doing that, but ultimately, we’re gonna do everything we can to win. That is job number one.”

Brooklyn: Among the teams opening training camp early and faced questions on media day about Michael Porter Jr.'s array of controversial offseason comments in media appearances, and Sean Marks noted that Porter's adjusting to a new market and expectations with the Nets, alluding to conversations that they'll keep private. Porter arrived in Brooklyn as part of the Cam Johnson trade, and received high marks for his on-court approach since joining the team. The offensive load he and Cam Thomas share will be one of the intriguing storylines to watch from a team still on the ground floor of its rebuild. Rookie Egor Dёmin will begin training camp limited by a plantar fascia tear he suffered this offseason. They consider rookie Drake Powell (knee), who could appear in preseason action despite him not progressing to five-on-five play yet. 

Charlotte: Former Celtic Drew Peterson, who departed Boston for a two-way deal with his former Celtics coaches Charles Lee and Blaine Mueller, reportedly has a team desperate to acquire him who can't since Charlotte reached him first. David Thorpe considered him a player to watch with the Hornets this season.  

"One of the best if not the best two-way players out there right now," he said.

Charlotte waived Nick Smith Jr., the former No. 27 overall pick in the 2023 draft, who played college basketball at Arkansas with Jordan Walsh. He averaged 8.0 PPG on 39.1% FG through two seasons. 

Cleveland: Kenny Atkinson showered Lonzo Ball with praise as the veteran guard the Cavs acquired in the Isaac Okoro trade with Chicago over the summer will take on an outsized role to begin 2025-26 with Darius Garland (toe) out. Cleveland will prioritize keeping Ball healthy for the postseason while tapping into his IQ and physical strides he's shown to begin the preseason for the Cavs. Cleveland also added more center depth to the training camp mix with Thomas Bryant this week, who added to the Pacers' playoff run.

"I thought (Ball) was a phenomenal pick-up," Atkinson said. "How many 6-6 point guards with his skill set on both ends, add that to your roster, we hit it out of the park with our offseason moves ... he was in here yesterday, hooped yesterday, he looked great. With his history, we obviously have to have a smart plan in place, but I do think he had some bad luck, last year he had the wrist ... that's gonna be a big part of it, preparing his body, getting a good plan in place ... he's a heck of a player ... you guys know how good he is defensively, that's what really excites me ... he's a guy who will get three steals in 10 minutes ... we had the second best offense in the league, with this guy, he just adds, he fits what we do." 

Golden State: The Jonathan Kuminga saga should end in some form this week unless both sides decide to extend his qualifying offer deadline, which comes this Friday. Until the contract standoff becomes settled, the Warriors will enter training camp this week with only nine active roster players and one two-way deal signed. The Warriors are the only team that hasn't made an offseason move, with the Kuminga situation holding up expected deals with Al Horford, De'Anthony Melton, Gary Payton II and Seth Curry. Kuminga can either accept the one-year, $8 million or multiple standing offers from Golden State that include team options and waived no-trade clauses, the latter Kuminga would receive if he picks up the qualifying offer. The Warriors, in turn, would likely get a deal done by offering a player option to Kuminga. Golden State re-opened Kuminga trade talks with the Kings. 

Houston: Fred VanVleet tore his ACL during an offseason workout this week and could miss the entire 2025-26 season, a devastating blow to the Rockets' offense after he led that unit alongside Jalen Green and Alperen Şengün last year. Kevin Durant's arrival could soften the blow some, but VanVleet provided needed three-point volume and efficiency alongside secondary ball-handling the roster doesn't have much of. Amen Thompson remains a work in progress at the point guard, Reed Sheppard contributed little during his rookie season and veteran Aaron Holiday can fill some guard minutes. It's unclear how the Rockets can fill the VanVleet void completely though, especially since the team hard-capped itself at the first apron and has next to no room left under it after signing Dorian Finney-Smith. Houston also agreed to a two-year, $50 million deal with VanVleet in June. VanVleet is not trade-eligible until Dec. 15, nor is most of the Rockets' roster after numerous offseason additions. 

Indiana: Rick Carlisle joined the Zach Lowe show, which is always a good listen. Monté Morris joined the Pacers' training camp roster before a cap issue nixed the deal. Indiana pivoted toward Delon Wright, who last played with the Knicks in a minor postseason role. Aaron Nesmith, who's extension-eligible on Oct. 1, might've been squeezed from a deal. 

Clippers: The Athletic profiled Dennis Robertson, the Kawhi Leonard representative at the heart of the Aspiration saga alongside Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, who allegedly made asks not allowed in the NBA CBA during Leonard's 2019 free agency. Endorsement deal demands like the one receiving scrutiny from Pablo Torre reportedly frustrated Leonard's former Raptors and other teams in free agency, whose suspicion with the Clippers immediately opened an NBA investigation toward the team that found no wrongdoing at the time. Clippers players and Ty Lue will receive questions about the new NBA investigation and controversy for the first time since it broke earlier this month when camp begins this week. 

“There’s no beginning and there’s no end to what (Robertson would) ask for,” an executive who spoke with The Athletic said. "There’s a bizarre expectation, not entitlement, but like a willingness to ask for crazy things.”

Lakers: JJ Redick received a contract extension following his first season as Lakers head coach, Rob Pelinka announced, as the team prepares to open a critical training camp that could become LeBron James' final one with the team. Redick met with James twice during a turbulent offseason, and found him in a great place mentally and willing to give his best. Pelinka said that LA hopes to retain James for as long as he wants to remain with the franchise. For his part, James has signaled retirement is looming, but it's not clear when.

“The first thing we want to do in terms of LeBron and his future is just give him the absolute respect to choose his story with his family in terms of how many years he’s going to continue to play,” Pelinka said. “He’s earned that right, and he’s the best one to talk about that in terms of how many years he’d like to play. … We would love if LeBron’s story would be to retire as a Laker.”

Miami: Signed Precious Achiuwa to a one-year contract, returning a player the team liked before trading him in the 2021 Kyle Lowry deal with Toronto. Achiuwa, 26 this season, averaged 8.9 PPG and 6.1 RPG while shooting 45.8% across three Raptors seasons before the Knicks picked him up and utilized him somewhat regularly before his role faded into the 2025 playoffs with Mitchell Robinson's return. He posted 6.6 PPG, 5.6 RPG and 1.0 APG on 50.2% FG (27.8% 3PT) last year with New York. Achiuwa joins Bam Adebayo and Kel'el Ware in Miami, which could set him up for reserve minutes at the five. 

Milwaukee: Cole Anthony spoke to The Athletic for his first comments since landing with the Bucks through the Desmond Bane trade that sent him from Orlando to Memphis, with the Grizzlies later buying him out and allowing him to join Milwaukee. Despite the logjam at guard and the end of the roster, Anthony stood among their stronger offseason additions with a track record of producing offense. It's less clear how he fits into the Bucks' defensive plans after he struggled to stay on the floor in the Magic's first-round loss to the Celtics. Giannis Antetokounmpo recently called Anthony an X-Factor for the Bucks. 

“Damn, that’s a hell of a compliment,” Anthony said. “I appreciate that from my big bro Giannis; shout-out to him.”

New Orleans: Dejounte Murray could make his return from a torn Achilles around New Year's Day, according to Shams Charania. That's a significant timeline update after he underwent surgery on Feb. 5 for the injury he suffered on Jan. 31 against the Celtics. Videos showed Murray dunking recently, and he's approaching the eight-month mark in his recovery. Three months from now would put him at just under one year from his injury. That same timeframe would likely place Tatum at the tail end of 2025-26 with few if any games left in the regular season. Zion Williamson appeared at Pelicans training camp showcasing dramatic weight loss, touting football field workouts, boxing and other routines. 

New York/Minnesota: The Knicks and Timberwolves pulled off the most shocking late-offseason trade in NBA history one year ago this week, flipping Karl-Anthony Towns and Julius Randle at the center of the deal that set up both teams to make the conference finals in 2025. Now, Randle is reflecting on the move after re-signing with the Wolves long-term while the Knicks began training camp last week under a new head coach in Mike Brown, who stressed tempo in an open practice session while teasing that the Knicks will prioritize rim protection with Mitchell Robinson available to begin this season, unlike last year. Tom Thibodeau, who's made several stops since his firing, joined Suns practice. Josh Hart expressed some willingness to take a step back if the Knicks decide to start double-big, which they've seemingly experimented with already at practice. Hart is dealing with a finger injury that'll force him to wear a splint. Jalen Brunson lost weight in anticipation of playing in the team's new system, which will also stress three-pointers. 

Oklahoma City: Sam Presti opened training camp forecasting a wider window for the Thunder's championship core than many might've predicted, saying that the second apron won't hinder the team's ability to retain its players into the future after extensions for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren. Presti said the second apron rules, specifically, don't harm a team's ability to retain its roster, and acknowledged that it's the cost of doing so that becomes the question for teams. He pointed toward a new television deal and forthcoming arena for the Thunder as ways to increase the franchise's ability to spend. The Thunder's ownership group is fiercely committed to supporting them, Presti said. It was always more likely Oklahoma City would face tough decisions on Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso next offseason, rather than their big three anyway. 

"All that to say, we understand what's coming, but it would be really fruitless for us to predict what's going to happen because we'd be missing the most important information, which is this season. What happens this season, what happens next season," Presti said. 

“I think the sky is our limit,” Banchero said. “We’ve had our experiences in the playoffs, losing in the first round for two years. We brought guys in who made deep runs in the playoffs and been on some good teams. So I think we can go as far as we allow ourselves to go. The one thing you don’t want to do is beat yourself. Being a younger team, you have to be able to correct mistakes on the fly and in the moment." 

Philadelphia: Joel Embiid (knee) and Paul George (knee) remain without a timeline after offseason surgeries, though Embiid appeared at the 76ers' opening practices, taking shots while noting he feels pretty good, despite no clarity on exactly when or how he'll return. Embiid hopes to play more consistently than he did last offseason, though Shams Charania noted that the knee issues Embiid has managed have been debilitating. George, similarly, said they'll assess him leading up to opening night as he ramps up. The Sixers suffered another blow to begin 2026 when Jared McCain tore a UCL in his right thumb and will miss roughly 4-6 weeks, based on the average recovery time. Free agent Quentin Grimes did not attend the team's media day as he and the team are poised to negotiate into camp and potentially extend his qualifying offer deadline past Oct. 1, though Philadelphia reportedly rejected that offer by Grimes. The Sixers open the season at Boston on Oct. 22, and the two teams face each other three times during the opening month. Kyle Lowry...

"I think we will get to a resolution in the next few days, hopefully," Daryl Morey said. "But we're excited to bring him back. He's a big part of what we're trying to do, now and into the future, if we can get things resolved."

Phoenix: Devin Booker spoke about extending with the Suns to begin training camp, citing unfinished business while also lamenting the difficult Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal moves the team made over the summer. He noted disappointment that the trio didn't work out and admitted that their chemistry wasn't where it needed to be to win. Suns governor Mat Ishbia also spoke, asserting the team needing an identity shift while defending the Suns' company culture in the face of multiple lawsuits. Phoenix reportedly made current employees largely waive their right to sue the team, and Ishbia called the ongoing litigation a money grab. 

“I just think when you are all on a different plan and don’t have the same common goal or same objective. Then that’s what it turns into," Booker said. 

Portland: Scoot Henderson tore his left hamstring in an offseason workout and will miss 1-2 months, the Trail Blazers announced. With Damian Lillard also injured, recently sharing that he expects to miss the entire 2025-26 season, and Anfernee Simons gone, the Blazers only have Jrue Holiday, Shaedon Sharpe and Deni Avdija available as facilitators. This could become another factor that accelerates the team's implementation of Yang Hansen as an offensive hub as a rookie. Hansen wrote an article introducing himself to Portland fans as training camp begins. 

Sacramento: Jonathan Kuminga could land with the Kings again after the Warriors halted trade talks earlier this offseason, with Golden State and Sacramento recently engaging again in discussions about a potential sign-and-trade. The Kings have offered Kuminga three years, $63 million while sending the Warriors Malik Monk and a lottery-protected 2030 first-round pick. Sacramento, earlier this summer, reportedly was willing to part with intriguing young guard Devin Carter too, but the Warriors rejected the overtures with limited interest in Monk. The Athletic noted that the Warriors have increased their Kuminga offer to three years with $48 million in guaranteed money and a team option. 

Utah: Georges Niang suffered a stress reaction in the fourth metatarsal in his left foot during offseason workouts, the Jazz announced, and he'll be evaluated in two weeks. Niang spent most of the offseason with the Celtics following his trade from the Hawks in the Kristaps Porziņģis deal. Boston dealt him to Utah in August with a pair of second-rounders, returning only two-way wing RJ Luis Jr. Kevin Love is expected to attend Jazz training camp with no contract buyout in sight, while the team added veteran center Mo Bamba. Utah and Walker Kessler will not come to terms on a rookie scale extension, The Athletic reported, which sets up the big man to reach restricted free agency next summer.