Boston Celtics

Front office and bench

Ownership

Bill Chisholm

President of Basketball Operations

Brad Stevens since 2021

Assistants

• Sam CassellAssistant coach
• Tony DobbinsAssistant coach
• DJ MacLeayAssistant coach
• Tyler LashbrookAssistant coach
• Ross McMainsAssistant coach

The direction

What the franchise says and what its moves show

Boston turns the page on the Tatum-Brown pairing and hands the team to Jayson Tatum, back from the Achilles tear he suffered in May 2025, with Paul George as his No. 2. Brad Stevens has prioritized cost control and long-term flexibility because of second-apron restrictions, without giving up on contending near the top of the East.

Building around

Jayson Tatum Derrick White Paul George

What they have said

• After the draft he said Jaylen Brown was an important part of the team and that he had spoken candidly with him; days later he traded him.

  President Brad Stevens · NBC Sports Boston / Boston Sports Journal · June 2026

• He defended the need for teams to control spending under the second-apron rules.

  Commissioner Adam Silver (on the Brown situation) · ESPN · July 2026

What the data points to

• Deadline buyer Very likely

  • Projects to 51.5 wins: built to compete now.
  • Can offer 3 first-round picks (2027, 2030, 2031).
• Clean up the books Likely

  • Spends 203.9 M and is in the luxury tax.
  • It is only 3.5 M over the tax: one minor move gets it out.
  • Expiring contracts appeal to it: swapping long money for salary that runs out frees up room for the summer.

Moves

Summer 2026

• Jaylen Brown traded to the 76ers (official July 6) for Paul George, two first-round picks (2028 and 2031) and two seconds.
• Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley arrive.
• 2026 Draft: Chris Cenac Jr. (No. 27, Houston).
• Extension for Neemias Queta; Jordan Walsh, Ron Harper Jr. and Payton Pritchard stay.
• Nikola Vucevic leaves in free agency.
• Before the Brown trade they tried to land Giannis Antetokounmpo, who ended up in Miami.

Latest

• Oct 17 Two-way contract Converted the contract of G Devin Carter to a two-way contract. Waived Fs Tucker Devries, Gabe McGlothan, Gs Hayden Gray and Milos Uzan.
• Oct 17 Waived Waived Gs Milos Uzan, Hayden Gray. Waived Fs Tucker DeVries and Gabe McGlothan
• Oct 16 Extension Re-signed G Payton Pritchard to a veteran extension.
• Oct 13 Extension Celtics, Payton Pritchard agree to two-year extension

The roster

15 NBA contracts · 2026-27 salaries

Strengths and weaknesses

Today's roster, facet by facet (league rank)

• Defense 4th
• Rim protection 13th
• Three-point shooting 5th
• Playmaking 7th
• Scoring 29th
• Rebounding 12th
• Offensive impact 8th

Roster holes

• Weak in scoringWith today’s rotation it ranks 29th in the league in scoring.

Contracts and extensions

Expiring this season

• Luka Garza 27 years old · paid 2.8 M Salary coming off the books

With an option next summer

• Paul George54.1 M · can leave early

Bargains (produce far above their salary, for several years)

None.

Pricey but short (paid more than they produce, but ending soon)

• Paul George54.1 M · 2 years

Money and picks

Payroll 203.9 M Cap 165.0 M Tax 200.4 M 1st apron 209.0 M 2nd apron 221.7 M

Payroll

203.9 M · in the luxury tax

Distance to each line

tax: 3.5 M over · 1st apron: 5.1 M below · 2nd apron: 17.8 M below

Next summer

224.3 M committed · no cap space

First-rounders it can trade

2027, 2030, 2031 · holds 2 other teams’ firsts and 4 swaps

Radar and possible trades

Players who fit and that it can afford

• Royce O'Neale CHA10.9 M · signed through 2027-28, produces above his salary
• Saddiq Bey NOP6.4 M · signed through 2029-30, produces above his salary
• Kris Dunn LAC5.7 M · expiring contract, produces above his salary

A trade that works under the CBA

Trade pieces

Assets

Payton Pritchard (worth 31.8 M more than his salary), Neemias Queta (worth 14.1 M more than his salary), Jordan Walsh (worth 5.5 M more than his salary), Baylor Scheierman (worth 7.2 M more than his salary)

Contracts that weigh

None

To match salaries

No expiring contract with a useful salary