The 2024-2025 Boston Celtics season resulted in catastrophic vogue. The Celtics misplaced to the New York Knicks within the second spherical, a sentence that didn’t really feel inside the realm of potentialities after we started the playoffs. And as if a second spherical loss to the Knicks wasn’t excruciating sufficient, Celtics followers have been handled to a poop-flavored cherry on prime coming within the type of Jayson Tatum rupturing his Achilles.
As Jaylen Brown tell us after the conclusion of the Knicks collection, “I used to be taught that there’s life after loss of life. So we’ll prepare for no matter’s subsequent.”
Within the wake of the Celtics’ season ending, I used to be reminded of the 2018-2019 Golden State Warriors. The Warriors entered these playoffs chasing historical past, and left those self same playoffs dealing with the potential finish of an period.
The query is, can Tatum and the Celtics safe their model of Golden State’s 2022 NBA championship?
Going into the 2018-2019 season, the Golden State Warriors have been chasing the elusive three-peat, one thing that hasn’t been accomplished because the Kobe and Shaq Lakers. Sadly, Kevin Durant ruptured his Achilles in Sport 5 of the NBA Finals, and Klay Thompson tore his ACL in Sport 6 (then subsequently ruptured his Achilles a yr later) — an apparent parallel to Jayson Tatum happening together with his personal Achilles rupture in Sport 4 of the collection in opposition to the Knicks. The clear distinction for the Warriors was that they nonetheless had their franchise icon, Steph Curry, intact for the next season. Then they misplaced Steph to a damaged hand simply 4 video games into the next season. This was the tip of the Warriors as we knew them, and the start of their pursuit of one other championship.
Just like the 2025 Boston Celtics, the 2019 Golden State Warriors have been confronted with important roster choices after the painful exists within the earlier playoffs. Kevin Durant departed in a sign-and-trade for D’Angelo Russell. He was then flipped for Andrew Wiggins on the subsequent commerce deadline. Andre Igoudala noticed the writing on the wall and left for the Miami Warmth.
I had forgotten the Celtics had the distinct pleasure of being on the improper facet of Iguodala chasing rings in two separate postseasons. I had apparently suppressed the reminiscence of Iguodala being a key piece of the Miami Warmth crew that took down the Celtics within the 2020 Jap Convention Finals. I digress.
So, of the highest 5 minute earners for the 18-19 Warriors: Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, Draymond Inexperienced, Steph Curry, and Andre Iguodala, solely Steph and Draymond have been on the opening evening roster. After which Steph Curry broke his hand 4 video games into the season. This led to the Warriors profitable simply 15 video games and securing the second total decide within the 2020 draft. Which landed them the crown jewel of the draft, James Wiseman.
Jayson Tatum’s Achilles harm has spawned the concept of a possible “stealth tank” season for the 2025-2026 Boston Celtics. It’s not onerous to see a path to a top-10 decide for the Celtics. Jrue Vacation and Kristaps Porzingis get moved for 50 cents on the greenback, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White are load managed, and JD Davison runs the second unit for a season. For a Celtics crew that can discover it onerous to accumulate expertise at a reduction, a top-10 decide is actually attractive. Simply have a look at what Cason Wallace is doing for the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.
However what’s attention-grabbing and shocking concerning the Warriors’ path again to rivalry is that not one of the excessive draft picks they made of their down years helped them win the 2022 title. James Wiseman is on his third crew. Jonathan Kuminga, who they drafted with the decide they obtained within the D’Angelo Russell for Andrew Wiggins commerce, wasn’t a giant issue, and neither was Moses Moody, who they chose 14th total. Mockingly, the one younger man who helped them win the title was Jordan Poole, who the Warriors drafted twenty eighth total within the 2019 draft.
If the Warriors missed on their bridge yr draft picks, how did they finagle their method again into rivalry? The apparent is that Steph Curry was nonetheless Steph Curry at age 33. For the Celtics to win one other title, it can require Jayson Tatum returning to his pre-injury type. The Warriors traded for the beforehand talked about Andrew Wiggins, drafted Jordan Poole, signed Andre Iguodala, Otto Porter Jr, and Nemanja Bjelica to veteran minimal contracts, and signed Gary Payton II to a two-way contract (which they later transformed to a full NBA contract). Briefly, the Golden State Warriors nailed the margins. Spectacular work from Bob Meyers.
Brad Stevens, you’re up subsequent.
After some extremely shrewd manoeuvering, the Warriors shaped a 10-man rotation of Steph Curry, Draymond Inexperienced, Klay Thompson, Kevon Looney, Andrew Wiggins, Jordan Poole, Otto Porter Jr, Gary Payton II, Andrew Iguodala, and Nemanja Bjelica. It is a rotation that, sadly, took down the Boston Celtics within the 2022 NBA Finals — simply three seasons after the obvious finish of the Warriors dynasty.
Since getting into the position of President of Basketball Operations for the Boston Celtics, it has been residence run after residence run for Stevens. The Kemba Walker for Al Horford commerce. Genius. The Romeo Langford, Josh Richardson, and a 2028 decide swap for Derrick White commerce. A masterstroke.
Subsequent, emulating a model of the 2022 Warriors. This can be Brad Stevens’ greatest check but. The muse of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Derrick White will, basketball gods prepared, stay in place. These three core items make up the Celtics’ model of the Steph, Draymond, Wiggins trio. I don’t suppose it’s outlandish to suppose that Payton Pritchard and Luke Kornet can replicate the affect of submit ACL/Achilles harm Klay Thompson and Kevon Looney. Pritchard is coming off a profession yr the place he was the league’s most potent weapon off the bench, and Luke Kornet reinvented himself as an offensive hub that may mash you on the offensive glass.
The final couple of seasons in Washington make it straightforward to overlook that Jordan Poole was an vital piece of that Warriors crew. Poole established himself as a 3rd “splash bro”, taking part in 27 minutes an evening and pouring in 17 factors per sport on 65% true taking pictures on their run to the title. The Warriors drafted this brash guard at twenty eighth total three seasons earlier. The draft was proper at first fell aside within the 2019 NBA Finals. Not dissimilar to how the Boston Celtics drafted a spunky wing out of Creighton with the thirtieth total decide within the 2024 NBA draft. When you squint, you may envision Baylor Scheierman hitting half-court daggers within the NBA Finals.
Sam Hauser could be our Otto Porter Jr. on this situation. Hauser has already confirmed he is usually a seventh man on a championship crew, after he had a wonderful collection in opposition to the Dallas Mavericks on the best way to Banner 18. I’m hopeful that Hauser continues to be round for the following iteration of the Celtics. If he’s not a casualty of the brand new CBA, then he brings our rotation to seven gamers. I
haven’t talked about Al Horford. Al can be roughly 104 years previous by the point the Celtics are able to contend once more. I received’t be surprised if Al continues to be taking part in, as a result of he’s blessed with the very best genetics an individual can have, however that may simply be a pleasant shock.
Subsequent, it’s time for Brad to search out his Iguodala, Gary Payton II, and Nemanja Bjelicas of the world. This doesn’t have to return within the type of veteran minimal contracts, however a bonus the 2026-2027 Celtics will probably have is the provide of taking part in time to potential free brokers. One thing they might not provide in the last few seasons. Which is why the Celtics haven’t introduced in any of the prized veteran minimal guys like Gary Trent Jr, Derrick Jones Jr, or Malik Beasley. On prime of getting a bonus within the veteran’s minimal free agent market, Brad Stevens and the Celtics personal all of their draft picks till 2028 (which is a swap with the Spurs), which is spectacular in itself. The truth that Brad Stevens was in a position to construct a crew as proficient and deep because the crew over the previous two seasons, whereas nonetheless having the draft capital he has obtainable, is a few tidy enterprise. The Celtics’ draft decide place is in stark distinction with a crew just like the Milwaukee Bucks, who don’t personal any of their draft picks till the 2031 draft. Hitting on a few of these draft picks may very well be the important thing to unlocking Banner 19. The Celtics personal the twenty eighth and thirty second total picks within the upcoming draft. It might be nice if these picks each became rotation gamers. Realistically, getting one rotation participant with these two picks could be an enormous win, however why not dream a little bit?
Going into subsequent season, the Celtics may have a pleasant assortment of rotation participant lottery tickets. Let’s take a second to admire these tickets, lets? The 2 2025 draft picks. Now we have the aforementioned Spunky Scheierman. Subsequent up is Jordan Walsh. The thirty eighth total decide within the 2023 draft. Walsh is but to point out us something that may lead us to consider he will help us on our journey in the direction of Banner 19. Nevertheless, he simply turned 21, they haven’t drawn the lottery balls for him simply but.
Loads might want to go proper for the Celtics to safe one other title within the Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown period. However the path is evident. Depend on the franchise cornerstones, hit on a few draft picks, and entice prized low-cost free brokers to hitch us on our quest to stay the winningest franchise within the NBA. This plan needs to be straightforward sufficient to execute when you might have Brad Stevens operating the present.
