Boston Celtics
“I think that we’re all still trying to figure out who we are and what we can be. We will not put a ceiling on this group.”
The 2025-26 Boston Celtics have exceeded expectations so far this season, placing fourth in the Eastern Conference as of Wednesday evening with a 15-11 record.
A reworked Boston roster playing without Jayson Tatum remains competitive in a wide-open East, offering hope that what once was envisioned as a “bridge year” could give away to another playoff run — especially if Tatum returns to the hardwood this spring.
Of course, even a Celtics team bolstered by the return of Tatum and other lineup stars like Jaylen Brown and Derrick White still has plenty of flaws, especially when it comes to the lack of depth within the team’s frontcourt.
As such, could Brad Stevens and the Celtics’ top brass pull off a deal or two before the Feb. 5 trade deadline to bring in reinforcements?
While Boston continues to evaluate its personnel, Stevens said Wednesday at the Auerbach Center that all options remain on the table.
“If it makes sense for us to look for things that can help us, we certainly will,” Stevens said. “But it all has to be within good deals, and it all has to be within the ultimate goal, which is the North Star of retooling so we’re in a position to compete for what we want to compete for.”
Despite Boston’s above-.500 record, Stevens acknowledged that taking stock of the Eastern Conference as a whole is a daunting task right now. Just 1.5 games separate third from ninth place within the conference standings.
But, given how much talent was sapped from Boston’s roster over a painful offseason, Stevens is encouraged by what he’s seen from this reworked roster under Joe Mazzulla’s watch this fall.
“Seen good growth, which is important,” Stevens said. “I think we’re in the midst of it, as every other team is, and there’s a fine line between feeling really good about yourself and not feeling so good about yourself.
“And I think we just have to kind of stay and work. I’ve kind of looked at us on a positive side — a work in progress where I’m really encouraged by both the work and the progress. I think that we’re making strides, and so we just have to continue to do it.”
Stevens praised Brown for stepping up as Boston’s No. 1 option with Tatum sidelined, with the wing currently sixth in the league in scoring at 29.3 points per game.
Boston’s top exec also praised role players like Jordan Walsh and Neemias Queta for developing into impactful starters with more reps up for grabs.
“I think that all of our young wings have shown that they’re capable of something, right?” Stevens said of Boston’s depth. “And I think that’s largely due to the fact that we have all of these older guys that are really — even some of the guys that aren’t playing as much right now, like Xavier [Tillman] and Chris [Boucher] and Luka [Garza] – that are giving them that environment.
“And I think it starts with Jaylen. I think it starts with Derrick, Payton [Pritchard], obviously, those guys that have been there, because it’s not easy when you necessarily go through the changes we went through, and the talent that’s lost, to have that kind of patience.”
Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
