- The Celtics have added key stars Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis
- Boston has an elite six-man rotation throughout the season
- There is no excuse for Jayson Tatum to not come through in the playoffs
The Boston Celtics became tired of failing in the postseason despite the talents of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. They lost in the 2021-22 NBA Finals and failed in Game 7 in the Eastern Conference Finals last season. By signing Jaylen Brown to a supermax extension which made him the highest-paid player in NBA history, the Celtics are continuing with the core of Tatum and Brown going forward. Importantly, they also made two major moves by bringing in Kristaps Porzingis and eventually, trading for All-Star and All-Defensive guard Jrue Holiday.
There is no doubt that the Celtics have an exceptional depth chart even if they lost key contributors Marcus Smart, Robert Williams, and Malcolm Brogdon. They have brought in two All-Star players to add to the core of Tatum and Brown, and still have Al Horford and Derrick White to continue maintaining the defensive identity. As a result, the Celtics are legitimate title contenders and it is time to go through the list of the 10 best players on the team heading into the 2023-24 campaign.
10. Jordan Walsh
2022-23 Statistics: N/A
Celtics fans are excited about Jordan Walsh, the No. 38 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Walsh is a 6’7” small forward who has key defensive potential and can also be a contributor on offense. There is a major chance that Walsh ends up becoming a top-8 player on the team but until we see him play in the NBA, we have to leave him at 10th place for now.
Joe Mazzulla and the Celtics coaching staff need to find a way to acclimate Walsh into Boston’s lineup as soon as possible because the more reps he gets on both ends of the court, the better of the team will be come playoff time. Walsh flew under the radar in the Draft but he could prove to be another gem that the Celtics find.
9. Sam Hauser
2022-23 Statistics: 6.4 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 0.9 APG, 0.4 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Sam Hauser seems to be a player Joe Mazzulla likes because the shooter appeared in 80 regular-season games last year, averaging 6.4 points in 16.1 minutes per game. The shooter has posted 43.2% shooting from three in 2022 and 41.8% from three in 2023, so he is an elite marksman and will get better as he gets acclimated into Boston’s offense a little bit more. Hauser still does not have the defensive game to be a major contributor, but he might get there eventually.
As long as the 6’8” small forward can make his threes, he will earn between 16 and 20 minutes per game. The Celtics need to add more bench pieces for competition purposes because they could be an injury or two away from dealing with difficult circumstances. Hauser should be ready to come in as one of the 10 best players on the team next season.
8. Oshae Brissett
2022-23 Statistics: 6.1 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 0.7 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Oshae Brissett was brought in as a backup forward because he is 6’7” and has solid athleticism on both ends of the court. The 25-year-old will benefit from being in Boston’s rotation because the team is built for success and he can learn how to play consistent defense when it comes to switching and being versatile.
Brissett only averaged 6.1 points per game in 2023 but he did play in 65 games for the Indiana Pacers. The forward only averaged 16.7 minutes per game and if he can provide similar numbers, Brissett will prove to be a solid pickup by Boston who need as much bench depth as possible heading into a very long season.
7. Payton Pritchard
2022-23 Statistics: 5.6 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.3 SPG, 0.0 BPG
Payton Pritchard has been begging for more minutes on the court and finally, he might be able to get it. Marcus Smart and Malcolm Brogdon are gone which means the backup guard spot is wide open for the taking. In terms of competing on both ends of the court with hustle, Pritchard fits in Boston’s mold.
The key for the former No. 26 overall pick will be to improve his offensive game because he has deep range but his production has been slightly lacking. The guard is shooting 40.0% from deep over his career which means he can stretch the floor enough to earn major minutes. Pritchard is also a willing passer and as he gains more minutes by impressing Joe Mazzulla, he will have better numbers in 2024.
6. Al Horford
2022-23 Statistics: 9.8 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 3.0 APG, 0.5 SPG, 1.0 BPG
Al Horford is 37 years old and is no longer capable of playing major minutes as Boston’s starter. However, if he can contribute at least 25 minutes per game, the big man will be indispensable for the team. Horford can space the floor (44.6% in 2023), compete on defense, and also move the ball. He is also a fan-favorite and one of the best players in the league in terms of pure basketball IQ and experience.
Horford will be placed in the starting lineup depending on the matchups but will also be a backup off the bench. The Celtics need to find a way to potentially bring in another big man for coverage because Horford is getting older and the newly added Kristaps Porzingis is considered an injury-prone player.
5. Derrick White
2022-23 Statistics: 12.4 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 3.9 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.9 BPG
Derrick White has to be one of the most underrated players in the league right now. He isn’t very flashy and doesn’t get a ton of shots on offense, but he competed hard on both ends of the court. The only reason Boston was willing to ship our Marcus Smart and Malcolm Brogdon was because of Derrick White, who made the All-NBA Defensive Team last year. White plays harder than most players in the league on perimeter defense.
Offensively, White can also stretch the floor as he shot 38.1% from deep and averaged 12.4 points per game. The former San Antonio Spur always makes the right play, doesn’t take bad shots, and has built chemistry with the stars of the team. At 29 years old, White is only getting better and that is good news for the Celtics.
4. Kristaps Porzingis
2022-23 Statistics: 23.2 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 2.7 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.5 BPG
There is a ton of expectation on Kristaps Porzingis because his two-way talent is there for everyone to see. Porzingis became an All-Star in the 2017-18 campaign with the New York Knicks but had his career derailed with injuries shortly after. The big man had a bounce-back campaign last year by averaging 23.2 points per game, and while he won’t have those numbers in Boston, he will be an exceptional third or fourth offensive option.
The reason the Celtics brought him in was mainly due to his size. The Celtics struggled to score easily whenever Tatum or Brown were struggling last year, and having a 7’3” figure near the basket means they can generate points easily. Kristaps also shot 38.5% from deep last year and will be the perfect piece as a stretch power forward who can also block shots.
3. Jrue Holiday
2022-23 Statistics: 19.3 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 7.4 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.4 BPG
What a pickup for the Boston Celtics. Jrue Holiday is one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA and based on his shooting and playmaking abilities, he is an upgrade over Marcus Smart. That means the Celtics found a way to upgrade Smart’s position and also bring in Kristaps Porzingis, meaning they are massive winners in the offseason. Holiday is still in his prime and was the final piece to the Milwaukee Bucks’ championship in the 2020-21 season.
Holiday is an All-Star offensive player in terms of scoring and playmaking but can also shut down opposing guards. The player has made five All-Defensive Teams over his career and will be a seamless fit in the starting lineup alongside All-Stars Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. As long as Holiday is healthy, he will be the third-best player on the Celtics all season long.
2. Jaylen Brown
2022-23 Statistics: 26.6 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.4 BPG
Jaylen Brown was heavily criticized for his atrocious Game 7 performance against the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. Even in the offseason, Brown is still getting ridiculed for his apparent lack of left-hand dribbling. Regardless, the All-Star made the All-NBA Second Team last season and is one of the best two-way wing players in the league right now. The key for him is to be consistent in the playoffs.
Brown will be the second-best player on the Celtics all season long and by the team signing him to the largest supermax deal in NBA history, the player must repay the organization with exceptional play. Jaylen can reach that next level because while he is an All-Star, he might have superstar potential and he might have to start on the defensive end.
1. Jayson Tatum
2022-23 Statistics: 30.1 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.7 BPG
Jayson Tatum is the best player on the Boston Celtics by far and he will handle the expectations when it comes to getting over the hump as an NBA champion. The superstar forward is not only a top-10 talent in the world but easily a top-five offensive player right now. He posted over 30 points per game and is getting better in terms of using his mix of offensive moves against any defense. The key for Tatum is to boost his ability in the clutch in major postseason games.
Tatum has support now with a host of star players beside him and that will relieve the burden he will have offensively every night. The pressure will still be on the former No. 3 overall pick if the Celtics do not get the job done next season and that might push him to another level in the rankings. So far, it is hard to say Tatum is better than superstars Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and perhaps Luka Doncic. To reach that next level, Tatum needs to be in the MVP conversation and also get it done in the playoffs.
