What looked like a true NBA Finals threat is headed home after the first round. It was a wild year for the Celtics in what was initially expected to be somewhat of a down season as Jayson Tatum recovered from a torn Achilles suffered last May.
Nobody told Joe Mazzulla and Jaylen Brown that, though. Brown had a career season where he averaged 28.7 points per game and the Celtics wound up a contender in the Eastern Conference even without Tatum.
Tatum's Return and Regular Season Success
Tatum triumphantly returned to the floor in early March and looked as though he was his normal self. He averaged a 20-point double-double over 16 appearances in the regular season and Boston ultimately finished with a 56–26 record and earned the No. 2 seed in the East.
Everything lined up nicely for Boston as it won nine of its last 11 games of the regular season with both of the Jays on the court. In a wide-open Eastern Conference, the Celtics looked like they had a chance to pull a rabbit out of the hat and contend for a title after they dealt without Tatum for the great majority of the season.
First-Round Collapse Against 76ers
The momentum continued into the playoffs where Boston met the 76ers in the first round and quickly got out to a commanding 3–1 lead in the series. The Magic got out to a 3–1 lead of their own on Detroit. Boston needed just one more win to get out of the first round, then anything could happen from there.
Tatum was surprisingly added to Boston's injury report on Saturday due to stiffness in his left knee. Mere hours before tipoff, he was ruled out with what the team called a left leg injury which left the Celtics to deal without the star forward one more time, just like they had for most of the season.
Still, Boston had a chance with Brown leading the way and a great performance out of Derrick White who had struggled over the first six games of the series. Philly controlled Game 7 for most of the way, but the Celtics were able to pull within one point in the first quarter until Maxey took over and handed Boston a shocking first-round exit.
Looking Ahead to Next Season
What looked like promising postseason momentum was only a disappointing exit, but the fact that the Celtics remained toward the top of the East this year is an accomplishment in its own right. For a historic franchise that's won 18 titles, though, that's not good enough.
Now the Celtics must look ahead to next season and prepare for a full year of the Tatum-Brown duo that led them to a championship just two years ago. Here's a look at the upcoming offseason in Boston from free agents to the NBA draft and big decisions the front office could make to push for a title next season.
Celtics' Free Agents This Offseason
Each member of Boston's core remains on the books for next season. Brown, White and Payton Pritchard are eligible for contract extensions, but the earliest any of those potential extensions would kick in is the 2028–29 season when Pritchard's current deal expires.
In the immediate future, the biggest question surrounding the Celtics next year is in the frontcourt. Sound familiar to last offseason?
Neemias Queta
Neemias Queta had a career year as Boston's starting center as he averaged 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game in his first year as a starter. Queta's increased role was out of necessity, but he turned into a big reason the Celtics thrived in what was initially thought to be a gap year due to Tatum's absence.
Queta has a $2.7 million team option for next season, a steal for Boston for a player of his caliber.
It's a no-brainer to bring Queta back, the question is whether Boston picks up his cheap team option or works out a new deal to lock him down for the long term.