Should the Boston Celtics consider a full-scale rebuild?

Should the Boston Celtics consider a full-scale rebuild?
The Boston Celtics face a tough decision. Jayson Tatum's Achilles tendon injury has all but ended the current roster's championship window. As such, Brad Stevens must begin retooling the roster ahead of when Tatum eventually returns to the rotation. It's also worth noting that upon returning, Tatum will need months of game time to reach the level he was playing at before suffering his horrific injury.
Therefore, we could be looking at a two-year window during which Boston isn't a contending team. Stevens has the difficult job of trying to thread the needle. He can't let the roster get too young, as it won't be at the required level once Tatum is back to himself. However, relying on aging talent is a recipe for disaster. Players in their mid-to-late 20s, specifically players in need of a new situation, will be the ideal targets.
Of course, the Celtics could also choose to blow things up and begin building from the ground up. That decision would situate Tatum as the unquestioned superstar on the roster, with a team designed to bring the best out of him, both as a scorer and playmaker. During a recent episode of "The Garden Report," the hosts discussed whether entering a full rebuilding phase is something the Celtics front office should consider as we head into the offseason.
You can watch the full episode by clicking on the embedded video above.
Watch the "Taylor Talks Celtics" podcast on:
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QnlPcS
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Boston Globe

2 hours ago

• Boston Globe

Celtics keenly focused on NBA Draft this season

'Boston is in an interesting position because of Jayson Tatum's injury and that is likely to put him out for the entire year next year, and even if you were to make the speediest of recoveries, you're talking about bumping up on the playoffs in a best-case scenario,' said Jay Bilas , former Duke standout and college basketball analyst. 'So with all the salary obligations that they have, I mean, I still think they're a good team without Jayson Tatum.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Related : Advertisement The days leading up to Wednesday's draft could be significant for the Celtics. Players such as Kevin Durant and even Giannis Antetokounmpo could be moved, meaning there could be teams seeking Jrue Holiday or Kristaps Porzingis before the draft kicks off. 'It's really a question of what do they want to do for the year after and how do they want to approach it,' Bilas said. 'They've still got a championship core together, but it's going to cost to keep it together. And certainly keep it together past this year, but I'd be very surprised if you just start dismantling things because of Tatum's injury.' Advertisement Cooper Fl agg will be the No. 1 pick and Dylan Harper is expected to be taken by the Spurs, but the Philadelphia pick at three and beyond is unpredictable. With that, the Celtics can astutely get two potential impact players with their picks. There have been gems taken late in the first round, such as Memphis's Desmond Bane (at No. 30), Detroit's Marcus Sasser (No. 25), Indiana's Ben Sheppard (No. 26), and Denver's Julian Strawther (No. 29) in recent years. 'You can get good players there,' Bilas said. 'You could get a guy like Rasheer Fleming from Saint Joseph's, who would fit in with any really good team because he can make a perimeter shot. 'He's got a ridiculous wingspan. And so he's a multi-position defender that can switch out on a guard, guard any wing, gets steals, deflections, offensive rebounds. You know he can rebound, kind of a prototypical three and D guy with a lot of potential and a lot of upside.' Another potential target could be Final Four MVP Walter Clayton Jr. , a small scoring guard who potentially could switch to point on the NBA level. Clayton is slipping because he's already 22, but he's a career 38.6 percent 3-point shooter and a big-game player. Bilas doubted Clayton Jr. would still be available, 'but somebody really good could be there,' namedropping Arkansas's Adou Thiero . 'There are some valuable pieces that could still be available 28 to 32 and you just have to make the decision you want somebody that's going to be able to come in and play now or is there an undervalued player out there that hasn't realized some potential, but people tend to forget that,' he said. Advertisement Draymond Green , Bilas noted, went 35th in the 2012 draft. Nikola Jokic went even later, taken No. 41 in 2014, with his pick announced during a commercial break in TV coverage. 'He was picked during a Taco Bell commercial in the second round and he wound up being pretty good,' Bilas said. 'He's the best player in the world right now.' Maine native Cooper Flagg is a lock for the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft. Brynn Anderson/Associated Press Time is now Magic make move with Bane The Magic made the biggest splash of this past week by acquiring sharpshooter Desmond Bane from the Grizzlies for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope , Cole Anthony , and four first-round picks. It's the latest deal that involves multiple first-round picks for a player yet to make an All-Star team. The Knicks spent five first-rounders on Mikal Bridges on what they thought would be the final piece to their championship puzzle. New York lost to the Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals. The Magic believe they are on the verge of being an elite team in the Eastern Conference and the field appears to be open. The Celtics will have to spend most of the season without five-time All-Star Jayson Tatum because of a torn Achilles'. The Pacers are one game from winning an NBA title but won just 50 in the regular season and likely wouldn't enter next season as the favorite in the East. Related : The Knicks still don't have a coach and the Pacers exposed weaknesses in their roster. The Cavaliers faltered in the playoffs for the third consecutive season and may need to upgrade. Advertisement 'It was a pretty easy decision for us,' Magic general manager Jeff Weltman said. 'We valued [Bane] very highly. When I stood in front of you guys after the season I honestly didn't expect him to be available and when we learned about that we shifted gears and made it our focus. 'The guy is almost the player you would design if you could start from scratch. We've spoken about our need for shooting but we've also talked about playmaking. Desmond is such a unique player because he's one of the best shooters in the NBA but he's also a gifted playmaker and he generates shot creation for himself and for others.' As evidenced in their series loss to the Celtics, the Magic desperately need shooting. Bane is a 41 percent 3-point shooter coming off his best offensive season with the Grizzlies. Weltman believes he can help unlock the Magic offense. 'He checks every box,' Weltman said. 'The guy's tough, he's physical and he's locked in every night. I think of him as an old-school tough guy. We compile data and we gather as much information on players and there aren't too many players teams regard as high as Desmond Bane.' The sacrifice is two rotation players and major draft capital. Caldwell-Pope had a poor first season in Orlando and Weltman pointed out his inability to create his own shot. Anthony was a one-time potential cornerstone but lost his spot in the rotation and was nearly unplayable in the Boston series. Advertisement 'We don't know what the value of those picks are,' Weltman said. 'We're betting on ourselves. We feel like we're going to be a good team. Our age profile with our core players, hopefully we can have our group together wearing Magic uniforms for a long time. And that will determine how valuable those picks are and this is what the NBA is about, it's betting on yourself, putting pressure on yourself, elevating your standard. 'We gave up none of our own core pieces, so this was a draft capital trade. Our whole team struggled to shoot. Adding a guy like Des will give us an elite level shooter but also a playmaker.' The hope is a healthy Paolo Banchero , Franz Wagner , and Jalen Suggs along with Bane and Wendell Carter will catapult the Magic into a deep playoff run. Acquiring Bane was a risky move, but the success of the Pacers encouraged several teams in the East that now is the time. 'Our goal isn't to win the East, it's to win the championship,' Weltman said. 'We're a real factor now and we're hopeful that this is a winning team and we can keep winning for a while. It's exciting to think about that because they should get better every year.' The Magic made the biggest splash this past week by acquiring sharpshooter Desmond Bane from the Grizzlies. George Walker IV/Associated Press Close to the top Thunder rebuilt after last trip The Thunder are on the verge of their first championship after moving from Seattle 17 years ago. They have been close, losing the Finals in 2012 with the trio of Kevin Durant , Russell Westbrook and James Harden . Harden was traded to the Rockets. Durant left via free agency in 2016 after the Thunder lost to the Warriors in the Western Conference finals, and Westbrook was eventually traded to Houston, beginning the franchise rebuild. Advertisement Coming from that rebuild was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander , acquired from the Clippers a few days before Westbrook was dealt. It required the Thunder to give up Paul George but they received a potential cornerstone coming off a solid rookie season along with five first-round picks. That trade, one of the most lopsided in NBA history and comparable to the Celtics' acquisition of Robert Parish and the third overall pick ( Kevin McHale ), has singlehandedly regenerated the franchise and it's the reason they are one victory from a championship. 'It's been fun [but] the cusp of winning is not winning,' Gilgeous-Alexander said. 'The way I see it, winning is all that matters. It hasn't been fulfilled. We haven't done anything. I built great friendships along the way. Had a lot of fun playing basketball. I think that's where you start. 'The organization and the guys around me have done a really good job of building an environment that is fun to come to every day. Really just focus on working and getting better. I think that's why we made jumps.' Perhaps the final piece to the puzzle was the hiring of coach Mark Daigneault , the 40-year-old Leominster native who was an assistant at Holy Cross and Florida before becoming coach of the Thunder's G-League affiliate. After missing the playoffs in his first three seasons but seeing progress, Daigneault has fueled Oklahoma City's run with his leadership and ability to relate to players. 'Coach has done a really good job over the years of highlighting and really putting emphasis on the things that matter and the things that you can control in a basketball game,' Gilgeous-Alexander said. 'Your mental approach is one of them. He's always been big on those type of things. 'I think honestly now it's like a trained muscle. He does a really good job of always thinking big picture and zooming out of the moment. 'Even if we're in a losing season a couple years ago, and I don't approach the game the right way, he pulled me aside after and explained to me it's a muscle that I'm going to have to build, something that I can't turn off and on, and I have to approach it a certain way. I think that's his biggest strength as a coach. 'He understands the game, then he understands how to connect with players and give them the right information to benefit themselves and ultimately benefit this team. That's all coach, to answer your question. He has prepared us great in that way.' A persistent discussion during the playoffs is whether the NBA has a face of the league with LeBron James , Stephen Curry , and Durant in the advanced stages of their careers. Gilgeous-Alexander is a prime candidate, but has a low-key personality. He has taken all of his accomplishments, including the MVP, in stride because he's far from finished. 'Really focused on the day-to-day things,' he said. 'You don't ever know what life is going to throw at you. I've just learned that over time. Trying to picture what it's going to look like or feel like, for me it's kind of pointless. Honestly, I try to make it an emphasis not to do so. 'Obviously, I'm human, so I naturally think about my dreams and my goals. As much as I can and as well as I can, I try to focus on the day to day, focus on what's gotten me to my dreams and my goals. That's where I hang my hat.' Perhaps the final piece to the Oklahoma City puzzle was the hiring of coach Mark Daigneault. Nate Billings/Associated Press Layups The Pacers made an astute move this past week by trading their first-round pick, 23rd overall, to the Pelicans, reacquiring their own first-round pick in 2026 that had been traded to Toronto in the Pascal Siakam deal. The Pacers are looking to clear salary and ridded themselves of a potential first-round pick salary. The Pelicans, led by new general manager Joe Dumars , now own the seventh and 23rd picks as they look to upgrade their roster after a disappointing, injury-riddled season … The Knicks are scheduled to interview former NBA coaches Mike Brown and Taylor Jenkins , the first interviews for their vacant position. Brown was fired by the Kings during last season, the team struggling after snapping a 17-year streak of missing the postseason. Jenkins had a successful stint with the Grizzlies before he was unceremoniously fired with nine games left in the season because the team had leveled off. Although Brown and Jenkins are quality candidates, neither was the Knicks' first choice and their coaching search is resembling a farce after they fired Tom Thibodeau . New York's front office had its sights on Jason Kidd or former Villanova coach Jay Wright . The Mavericks rejected the Knicks' request to interview Kidd and Wright pulled his name out of consideration quickly … There were rumors that Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers would assume a role in the front office and leave coaching to either former assistant Sam Cassell , now with the Celtics, or ex-Lakers coach Darvin Ham . But Rivers indicated he intends to return as coach as the Bucks are prepared to keep superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and attempt to rebuild around him … Russell Westbrook is expected to opt out of the $3.4 million option on his contract and become an unrestricted free agent again. He mostly played well for the Nuggets and provided spark during their playoff run. If Westbrook decides to sign with another club, it will be his sixth team in six years as he vies for his first NBA championship. Westbrook showed he still has the athletic explosion and defensive prowess to contribute to a winning team, but he is prone to slumps and mistakes that have made him expendable. Considering his 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists this season, he comes as a financial bargain for teams willing to take on his off-court aura. Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at

New York Times

3 hours ago

• New York Times

Rafael Devers is gone. Wilyer Abreu is back. How will the Red Sox divide up the playing time?

SAN FRANCISCO — Rafael Devers stepped to the plate in the first inning at Oracle Park on Friday, his first game against his former team, the Boston Red Sox. It had been five days since a shocking trade between the Red Sox and Giants rocked the baseball world. Devers, wearing No. 16 and donning San Francisco's orange and black, walked the batter's box as the crowd rose for a standing ovation. In the opposing dugout, Red Sox manager Alex Cora nodded his head to his longtime former player. Rafael Devers receives a big ovation before his first at-bat against his former team 👏 — SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) June 21, 2025 Devers took his customary deep sigh at the plate before digging in. He grounded out on one pitch in the first of five hitless at-bats during a back-and-forth affair, one which the Red Sox held on to win 7-5 over the Giants. It marked Boston's eighth win in its last nine games. 'It's not surreal, just weird, you know,' Cora said of seeing Devers on the other side after nine years in Boston. 'But like I said, we as an organization, we made a decision, he's with the Giants. And like he said a few days ago, he has a job to do. We got a job to do.' Advertisement There was a bit of irony in the fact that the Red Sox had their best offensive game since trading Devers in their first matchup since his departure. The Red Sox had scored a total of five runs across their previous three games in Seattle, with some natural questions about what losing Devers' bat might mean for the team's offense. Those questions were quieted on Friday as the Red Sox posted seven runs on 11 hits and scored in five straight innings after falling behind 3-0 in the second inning. 'Now somebody else has to step up,' Cora said of the team's offensive identity without Devers. 'We might have to play a little bit of small ball, especially in places like this and places like Seattle. I do believe, athletic-wise, we're in a good spot. Obviously, we've got a bunch of kids that are learning how to play in the big leagues, and it's not that easy. But we're very pleased with the at-bats.' Ceddanne Rafaela went 3-for-4 with a go-ahead homer in the sixth inning and finished a triple shy of the cycle, while David Hamilton's two-run homer in the third put the Red Sox on the board. Devers' bat provided a consistent power threat, but the Red Sox showed Friday that they can produce without him. Wilyer Abreu, in his first game back after 10 days on the injury list with an oblique strain, collected two hits and drove in a run in the win. With Abreu back, the Red Sox optioned Kristian Campbell to Triple-A Worcester. In 67 games, Campbell hit .223 with a .664 OPS. He burst onto the scene in April, winning Rookie of the Month before hitting a wall in May and struggling to find consistency. Since the start of May, he'd hit just .159 with a .465 OPS. Campbell had started 54 of his 67 games at second base, but racked up minus-14 Defensive Runs Saved, the worst in the majors. In Worcester on Friday, Campbell continued to take grounders in pre-game work at first base. Advertisement 'I think it was a good time for him to reset, to be honest with you,' Cora said before the game. 'Go down there and work on a few things that we have seen the last few weeks that we were not doing here. 'To be able to play the (first base) position, that'll be important,' Cora added. 'Obviously, with time, we're going to have to make some more decisions with the roster. Him playing first base is going to help us.' With Campbell having a majority of the reps at second recently, Cora said Hamilton will see more playing time at the spot. He also noted rookie Marcelo Mayer, who has taken over third base since Alex Bregman went on the injury list May 24, could see time at second, particularly when Bregman returns from the IL. Bregman isn't close to returning, but continuing to ramp up his running progression. Bregman and Masataka Yoshida worked out at Boston College this week as Fenway Park prepares to host a series of concerts this weekend. Yoshida has been building up arm strength since offseason shoulder surgery, but with the DH spot now open, Cora said there's less of a need for Yoshida to fully strengthen his throwing arm to play the outfield and that he could move into the DH role once he completes a rehab assignment. Yoshida isn't quite ready to begin a rehab assignment, but Cora said that he will be soon. Meanwhile, by optioning Campbell to Triple A, the Red Sox gave a vote of confidence to Roman Anthony, who entered the game with two hits since his promotion on June 9. Anthony went 1-for-4 on Friday and drove in a run. Cora noted with Abreu returning to man right field, a spot where he won the Gold Glove last season, Anthony will see time at all three outfield spots. Anthony had only played right field since his promotion. On Friday, he served as the designated hitter. Advertisement Without Devers at DH and with Yoshida still a ways from returning, the club will rotate players through the DH spot. Cora has mixed and matched the roster to maximize the pieces, and on Friday, in their fourth game of the post-Devers era, the offense looked more than capable. (Photo of Rafael Devers: Lachlan Cunningham / Getty Images)

Yahoo

4 hours ago

• Yahoo

New Red Sox prospect records first hit after coming over in Devers trade

James Tibbs III, the top prospect coming to the Red Sox in the Rafael Devers trade, notched his first hit with the organization Wednesday night. Currently ranked as Boston's No. 6 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, Tibbs recorded a single the other way to left field for AA Portland in a home loss to Akron. Advertisement In the contest, Tibbs also scored his first run and earned his first walk for the Sea Dogs. Wednesday's game followed an underwhelming debut for Tibbs with Portland. The 22-year-old lefty started off his time with the Sea Dogs going 0-for-4 at the plate with three strikeouts. In both contests, the outfielder started in right and hit second in the batting order. Tibbs joins Portland after playing 57 games and posting an .857 OPS at High-A Eugene Emeralds. Before debuting for the Sea Dogs, the former top pick had never played beyond High-A. Tibbs was one of four players traded by the San Francisco Giants to the Red Sox for Devers on Sunday, June 15. Before he was traded, MLB Pipeline had Tibbs ranked as the fourth best prospect in San Francisco's organization. Advertisement The Giants selected the outfielder 13th overall in last year's MLB Draft, after he slashed .363/.488/.777 as a junior with Florida State. Tibbs was shipped along with 20-year-old pitcher Jose Bello who was assigned to Boston's Florida Complex League, 23-year-old pitcher Kyle Harrison who is in Worcester, and 28-year-old reliever Jordan Hicks who is currently on the 15-Day Injured List. In his first two games with the Giants, Devers went 2-for-8 with one double, one RBI, and a walk. Read the original article on MassLive.