Jaylen Brown was named the NBA Finals MVP in 2024 as the Boston Celtics reached the mountaintop and took down the Dallas Mavericks in five games. Now, he is the newest member of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Brown was sent to Philly in a blockbuster deal that sent Paul George and a haul of picks back to Boston. Just like that, the landscape in the Eastern Conference shifts again. Celtics fans may be in a bit of shock and are left wondering what the depth chart will look like next season.
Celtics’ Potential Rotation and Depth Chart Revealed
ESPN wasted no time updating the Celtics’ depth chart as soon as the trade was announced. Here’s the current projection:
PG: Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Mike Conley, Dalano Banton
SG: Baylor Scheierman, Pritchard, Hugo Gonzalez, White, Ron Harper Jr.
SF: Paul George, Sam Hauser, Scheierman, Gonzalez, Harper
PF: Jayson Tatum, Jordan Walsh, George, Chris Cenac Jr., Hauser
C: Mitchell Robinson, Neemias Queta, Luka Garza, Cenac, Amari Williams
MORE: Grade the Jaylen Brown Trade: Who Won the Blockbuster Deal Between the Celtics and 76ers?
Anyone who has not paid attention to free agency may be surprised by this new-look roster. George slots in as the new small forward and new NBA champion Mitchell Robinson will hold down the center job after Boston signed him away from the New York Knicks. And let’s not ignore veteran Mike Conley showing up for a 20th NBA season.
The George addition is interesting, as he owns a player option in 2027-28. He could potentially be used in a deal to bring another star to Boston, coupled with a few of those newly-acquired picks. But for now, he projects to be a key piece for the Celtics.
Robinson at center is an intriguing addition. His defense on Victor Wembanyama and the 10 rebounds he grabbed in the Knicks’ series-clinching Game 5 win over the San Antonio Spurs may have boosted his stock entering free agency. Now, he’s locked in with the Celtics for three years.
Tatum has emerged as the foundational piece in Boston, winning that battle over Brown. He will take on a new level of pressure now that his co-star is not only gone, but gone and in the same division.
Tatum will rely on the likes of White, George, Pritchard, Scheierman, Hauser, and others to help carry the load as the Celtics enter a new era in Boston. Conley could also end up being an X-factor at the age of 38.
The Celtics are Tatum’s team now. Whether George and Robinson help replace the massive void left by Brown remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Brad Stevens is being aggressive and making some bold moves this offseason.
