NBA 2023-24 Boston Celtics Preview: Roster, Free Agents, and Predictions

It is time to publish the NBA 2023-24 Boston Celtics preview. Data, results from the previous season, a look at their squad and their future free agents, the objectives of the course, the player to follow and a prediction about the franchise.

Boston Celtics

Balance 2022-23: 57-25 (2nd Eastern Conference, qualified for playoffs).Coach: Joe Mazzulla (2nd year).Top free agents in 2024: Jrue Holiday (player option).

Template

Movements in the market: Transfer and subsequent extension of Kristaps Porzingis for 2 years and 60 million; ‘Super Extension’ for Jaylen Brown for more than 300 million; Payton Pritchard extension for 4 years and 30 million; signings of Wayne Gabriel and Oshae Brisset; transfer of Jrue Holiday from Portland.Backcourt: Dalano Banton, Oshae Brisset, Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser, Jrue Holiday, Svi Mykhailiuk, Payton Pritchard, Jayson Tatum and Derrick White.Frontcourt: Wenyen Gabriel, Al Horford, Luke Kornet, Kristaps Porzingis, Neemias Queta and Lamar Stevens.

This is how they face the season

Celtics fans threw their hands up when the departure of their captain Marcus Smart was confirmed in a triple trade to obtain Kristaps Porzingis. The Latvian, of proven quality, arrived from Washington where he had achieved a good level in the 82 games he played during a season and a half.

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However, his injury problems worried more than one, perhaps not including Brad Stevens, the Celtics’ boss. Stevens has given him his absolute confidence, first betting on him in a multiple transfer that meant losing the team’s emotional symbol; and then extending his contract for 60 million dollars until 2026. The message given is a declaration of intent: “Let’s go for the ring.”

In Boston he hopes to become the interior pillar of the team. We don’t know if as a starting power forward alongside veteran Al Horford, or as a ‘five’ if Joe Mazzulla opts for a small quintet as we have already seen in the last preseason games.

Brown’s ‘Super Maximum’

With the arrival of Porzingis the movements were not going to end. With Jaylen Brown on the tightrope due to an alleged discomfort because he could end up in Brooklyn, Stevens made another aggressive move, granting him the super extension for the maximum salary in exchange for more than 300 million dollars.

Brown and the Celtics management were in continuous negotiations throughout the summer. There were rumors about a possible partially guaranteed deal, although in the end that was not the case, and he will collect every last cent of his new deal. He will be a Celtic at least until 2029, and after him, Jayson Tatum can follow in his footsteps, who could also have his super maximum extended in the summer of 2024.

The guard took a certain step back in the playoffs. Something he can’t afford, and neither can the Celtics. With his new contract they will demand more responsibilities and better decision-making. This could be helped by the operation that Stevens pulled out under his sleeve taking advantage of the fact that the river was troubled by the transfer of Damian Lillard: the acquisition of Jrue Holiday via Portland.

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The icing on the cake: Jrue Holiday

Within hours of Lillard’s move being leaked, the Celtics front office went to work to land Holiday. No sooner said than done. As soon as the veteran point guard was within range, they did everything possible to please the Blazers in the process of rebuilding. In exchange, they sent the young Robert Williams III, who had been suffering from physical problems; the contract of a Malcolm Brogdon upset with management, and future rounds of the Draft.

The situation could not be better for the Celtics who, in exchange for a proven point guard like Holiday, only lost Williams III and a couple of rounds in the Draft. The business, in theory, could not have turned out better. Because if Smart’s departure hurt Celtics fans, the signing of Jrue Holiday must have calmed them down. His presence improves Smart’s performance—especially on the offensive end—and he should unlock a new version of Tatum and Brown, since both, also thanks to Porzingis, will have less attention from rivals.

In terms of defensive duties, opting for Smart or Holiday is a matter of taste, but the newly signed has a history of important and decisive plays stealing balls. One of them served to put an NBA title on track. Holiday arrives having been an indispensable piece in the 2021 champion Bucks. And this was attested to by Giannis Antetokounmpo’s words at his teammate’s farewell.

Last touches

And as if Tatum, Brown, Horford, White, Holiday and Porzingis were not enough, Brad Stevens, in my opinion the top favorite for Executive of the Year, had not finished his job and still had to close Payton Pritchard’s extension almost at a bargain price, and the signings as free agents of Lamar Stevens, Svi Mykhailiuk, Oshae Brissett and the former Laker, Wayne Gabriel, who arrived after offering a good level in the 2023 World Cup.

How would the rotation look? With Jrue Holiday and Derrick White as supposed starting point guards; the wings would go to Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, and the center position would go to Porzingis. These are followed by Horford, Pritchard, Gabriel, Brissett, Kornet, the shooter Mykhailiuk if he finally remains on the roster, or the rookie from Arkansas: Jordan Walsh.

Perhaps the second unit is the Achilles heel of this squad, but if Mazzulla finds the ideal rotation, everything points to top favorites in the East—and in the NBA?—to compete for title number 18 for the legendary greens. The goal is number 1 in the East during the regular season and the Finals during the spring. Anything less than achieving it will be a failure for this project of such magnitude.

The player to watch

Not Jayson Tatum, not Jaylen Brown. I mark Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis as the differentiators of the new season.

Holiday’s work because in defense he has to make up for the great work of Marcus Smart, and because in my opinion he will be more decisive than the now Memphis player. His numbers and experience support him as a key piece. In addition, Antetokounmpo noted his loss as a “big loss.” Holiday is one of those players who doesn’t make much noise off the court, but more than delivers on it.

He was NBA champion in 2021; First Team Defensive in 2018, 2021 and 2023, and Second Team Defensive in 2019 and 2022. Did anyone say anything about Smart leaving?

And about Porzingis because the interior continues to be a ‘unicorn’ that if injuries respect him, the Celtics can do a lot of damage inside (and outside). Since his selection by New York he has shown to have immense scoring, rebounding and blocking talent, and with a good hand for shooting from the outside (career 36% in triples).

If these two players fulfill what is expected of them, and Tatum, Brown, White and Horford perform like last year, I put the same phrase in Brad Stevens’ mouth: “Let’s go for the ring.”

NBA Preview 2023-24 Boston Celtics, the forecast

Elio Martínez, director of nbamaniacs, leaves a personal and subjective forecast about what he believes each franchise will do during the season in the previous NBA 2023-24.

Boston’s tremendous team. Taking into account that Giannis should play between 65 and 70 games and that Philadelphia has the Harden matter pending resolution, the Celtics should go to a minimum of 58 wins. 60 is my bet.

Next team: Milwaukee Bucks.

(Cover photo: Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images)

2023-10-20 13:00:00
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