The Celtics’ roster is going to look a lot different next season.
The 2024 NBA champions have experienced a number of shake-ups in 2025. A gruesome Achilles injury to Jayson Tautm in the playoffs means Boston will be without its best player for a full year, and now, the team has traded Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis in the span of two days.
For Boston, the deals were about shedding salary to get under the second luxury tax threshold, which carries significant financial penalties. The Celtics will be able to avoid the second apron, but their depth has taken a significant hit.
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Boston finished second in the Eastern Conference this past season, but expectations could be tempered for next year. Here is what you need to know about the Celtics’ projected lineup for the 2025-2026 NBA season.
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Celtics 2025 lineup projection
Joe Mazzulla is going to be working with a much different group of players than his first three seasons as a head coach. Making all of the pieces fit together could be a significant challenge. After the Holiday and Porzingis trades, the Celtics won’t have as deep of a bench.
| Position | Player |
| PG | Derrick White |
| SG | Anfernee Simons |
| SF | Jaylen Brown |
| PF | Georges Niang |
| C | Luke Kornet |
White should continue to start at point guard, but there is sure to be some reshuffling after that. The 6-7 Brown should be able to slide over to small forward, making room for either the newly acquired Anfernee Simons or Peyton Pritchard, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, to start at shooting guard.
Jayson Tatum’s absence opens the door for either Georges Niang or Sam Hauser to start at power forward, and for now, Luke Kornet is the leading man at center. If the Celtics find a way to bring back Al Horford (while staying under the second apron), he will start at center again.
MORE: Grading Celtics-Trail Blazers trade involving Jrue Holiday | Kristaps Porzingis trade grades
