Boston Celtics 2026-2027 guide

Major returns and high-profile departures defined a turbulent summer for the Boston Celtics, the biggest losers of the Jaylen Brown trade to Philadelphia, but still firmly among the leading teams in the East.

At the end of the article, you can check out all the guides to the 30 NBA teams by visiting the Guide Index.

Dunkest NBA Fantasy Basketball is the most-played FantaNBA game in Italy, with more than 200,000 fantasy coaches competing every year since 2013 through points, assists and rebounds. It is free and can be played through the iOS app, Android app and Website.

Key players

The emphatic return of Jayson Tatum (F, 18.0 cr.) late last season breathed new life into an already established group, to the point that it convinced the front office to trade an MVP candidate like Brown and fully commit to No. 0; having already begun the process of getting back up to speed in 2025-26 will be key to hitting the ground running in a season that awaits him as the undisputed centerpiece.

The consistency of recent seasons has finally convinced the front office to put Payton Pritchard (G, 11.5 cr.) at the heart of the project, entrusting him with major responsibilities as the primary ball-handler.
So far, the gritty guard has never been intimidated by matchups against the league’s biggest names, so it is reasonable to expect him to make his definitive leap.

Potential surprises

The much-maligned Paul George (F, 11.5 cr.) looks like the perfect fit for the ultra-modern Celtics Joe Mazzulla wants: size and versatility on defense, shooting and off-ball positioning on offense. If his body holds up, the former Sixer could finally find his ideal role, forming a frontcourt that will be difficult for anyone to deal with.

The experienced hands of Mike Conley (G, 6.0 cr.) should also provide valuable help to the second unit’s ball movement: given this roster’s unmatched perimeter threat, it is reasonable to expect plenty of assists from him.

Players to avoid

Neemias Queta (C, 11.0 cr.) and Mitchell Robinson (C, 6.5 cr.) are competing for a starting center spot that, in theory, does not really suit either of them: ball movement and three-point shooting, non-negotiable principles in Massachusetts, are not strengths for either big man, and they will often sit together in favor of the small-ball approach that became increasingly prominent late last season and has been further encouraged by the arrival of PG13.

Projected starting five

PG: Payton Pritchard (Guard, 11.5 Credits)

SG: Derrick White (Guard, 10.5 Credits)

SF: Paul George (Forward, 11.5 Credits)

PF: Jayson Tatum (Forward, 18.0 Credits)

C: Neemias Queta (Center, 11.0 Credits)

Power Ranking

Joe Mazzulla’s Celtics have always stood out for their ability to succeed regardless of the individual talent on the roster, thanks to extremely solid principles that are fully aligned with the direction of modern basketball. If the new arrivals fit in properly, they could even improve on recent seasons and rightfully return among the contenders for the title.

Still have questions?

• Check out the full list of Dunkest Guides
• Message us on Instagram and we’ll be happy to help!
• Follow all the news on our official Telegram channel