Nothing has gone right for the Boston Celtics over the past couple of months, and some upcoming news might sting them again.
Since losing to the New York Knicks in the second round, the Celtics have been among the league’s most active teams as they prepare for life without Jayson Tatum on the floor next season. Tatum, of course, tore his Achilles in the Celtics’ second-round series and is set to miss all of next season, effectively knocking Boston out of title contention in 2026.
With an effective gap year, Brad Stevens has been able to pump the brakes on the team’s all-in approach and help fix the Celtics’ cap situation. Avoiding the second apron has been a key goal for Boston this offseason, with Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis getting traded being the best examples of that.
Along with the trades, Boston has also had some major departures in free agency, with Luke Kornet headed to San Antonio. Meanwhile, Al Horford is likely to make his way to a new team in the coming weeks, making his status as one of the top remaining free agents, according to Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes, even more devastating in Boston.
Horford’s two stints with the Celtics were incredibly memorable. With numerous conference finals runs and an eventual championship, Horford’s inevitable departure certainly has to sting for the fans who watched him reach the mountaintop.
As Hughes lined out, Horford making a return to Boston simply doesn’t make sense. With the Golden State Warriors able to offer him a big role and a better chance to contend for a title, all signs seem to point toward Horford landing on the West Coast.
