The Boston Celtics underachieved in the 2020 NBA Playoffs, failing to reach the Eastern Conference Playoffs despite career seasons from Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, getting a rejuvenated Gordon Hayward, and swapping out Kyrie Irving for Kemba Walker.
Now, Hayward has left, Walker is nursing an injury and East has only gotten tougher. Boston’s new additions will have to have a major impact in their first season with the team.
Celtics Roster Additions
| Player | Transaction |
| Aaron Nesmith | Draft (13th) |
| Payton Pritchard | Draft (26th) |
| Yam Madar | Draft (47th) |
| Tristan Thompson | Free Agency (CLE) |
| Jeff Teague | Free Agency (BOS) |
Biggest Acquisitions
- Tristan Thompson: Tristan Thompson has developed into a strong two-way player, capable of generating his own offense and being a dynamic defender. Unlike Enes Kanter, he won’t be getting himself played out of games because he’s not mobile enough.
- Aaron Nesmith: An elite shooter with All-Star potential, Aaron Nesmith suddenly finds himself needing to replace Gordon Hayward, another smart player and skilled shooter with positional versality. It would be unfair to expect him to do it alone but the weight falls on his shoulders, primarily.
Celtics Roster Subtractions
| Player | Transaction |
| Gordon Hayward | Sign-and-trade (CHA) |
| Enes Kanter | Trade (POR) |
| Vincent Poirier | Trade (OKC) |
| Brad Wanamaker | Free Agency (GSW) |
Biggest Losses
- Gordon Hayward: Gordon Hayward’s time in Boston definitely didn’t go as planned but he had the resilience to battle back from a major injury and be an upper echelon glue player for the Celtics. His playmaking is going to be more difficult to replace than his shooting.
- Brad Wanamaker: One of the most steady backup point guards in the league since coming to the NBA in 2018-19, Wanamaker quietly proved himself to be the type of competitor and savvy veteran that any contending team could use.
