Was the Celtics’ Offseason Helpful or Harmful?

by Pippa Jones ’28 and Sarah Wolff ’28 on October 9, 2025

PCI

Providence College Investigates: NBA

Helpful

With the new roster cuts for the Boston Celtics, fans are speculating whether this will benefit or hurt the team. Some fans are outraged while others are excited to see how this controversial decision will play out. Although controversial, these roster cuts and new additions to the team will end up being successful. Miles Norris being waived has caused many to question coach Joe Mazzula’s intentions for the upcoming 2025–2026 season. Although these iffy trades bring instability within the team, rookie RJ Luis, a shooting guard and an alumni of St. John’s University, is a promising contribution to the team. Not only did Luis have a successful college career with being named the Big East Player of the Year and to the Big East first team, he was also a second team All American. Luis also was notable for making accolades for the St. John’s team, averaging 18.2 points per game. Another notable rookie is second round draft, 23-year-old Amari Williams. Williams was originally overseas from Nottingham, England and was recruited to go to the University of Kentucky. As a center, Williams averaged 10.9 points per game and proved to be a large part of the team’s success in the 2024–2025 season. He was the second player in SEC history to have at least 375 points. His 115 assists contributed to the team’s tie for the lead in assists. Before Kentucky, Williams played at the University of Drexel from 2020–2024. Even though these additions to the team create a new team dynamic, with the Celtics’ successful 2024 season, some new additions may create new opportunities for further success for the team. Also, these new rookies bring fresh legs and a youthful incoming group. With these trades, it will allow the team to continue to improve and highlight the strength of the team regardless of their new players. This strength is going to be seen through these new rookies as they develop with the team and prove their worth as players.

Harmful

As much as Boston fans, including myself, want to believe that the Celtics 2025–2026 team is built for another strong playoff run, the red flags indicating the opposite are hard to ignore. The most obvious problem for the Celtics is Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury. His recovery timeline is largely unknown, and without Tatum on the floor, the Celtics will face some struggles in their attempt to replicate the success of the past few years. Asking Jaylen Brown to shoulder the bulk of scoring will eventually wear him down. Beyond health, the Celtics are also facing a substantial amount of financial strain. Their prior spending essentially released them into heavy luxury tax obligations and fairly restricted flexibility within the roster. To ease the burden, the front office was forced to make some costly roster trims, such as trading Kristaps Porziņģis and Jrue Holiday. Unrelated to the luxury tax, yet a devastating departure for Boston, is Al Horford. This unbelievable veteran big man was not just a steady rotation player. He was a defensive beast, a leader in the locker room and on the court, and a mentor to everyone around him. His work ethic, consistent play, and inspiring sense of professionalism made him an invaluable piece to the Celtics. We will miss you, Big Al. In addition to all this, the Celtics are now playing under the limitations of the second apron rules. This means that their capacity to make significant trades is limited, which will make midseason movements more difficult. That also implies that if things start to spiral—more injuries, lack of cohesion, no team chemistry—it may impact Boston’s freedom to change course. There are too many unanswered questions surrounding the Celtics going into this season. It’s hard to see Boston breeze into the NBA Finals again given injuries, roster turnover, financial limitations, and Horford’s absence. As much as it pains me to say, Boston is in a period of trouble, and this year will most likely not result in a success story.

Hayward Injury Impacts Celtics Season

by The Cowl Editor on October 26, 2017

Professional Sports

by Max Anderson ’18

Sports Staff

A nightmare scenario for Celtics fans became reality last Tuesday night when Gordon Hayward, the star free agent who signed for the Celtics over the summer, gruesomely dislocated his ankle and fractured his tibia in a 102-99 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The loss of Hayward is a substantial blow to a new-look Celtics team that was looking to finally dethrone the Lebron James-led Cavaliers atop the Eastern Conference. Before the season began, the Celtics’ odds of winning the Easter Conference were 9-4; after Hayward’s injury, the Celtics’ odds decreased to 11-4.

While the odds decrease may not look that bad for Celtics fans, you also must account for the fact that Hayward was likely going to be the man that could help contain James in the Celtics-Cavs matchups, as well as helping match his production. Without Hayward in the lineup, the task of stopping James becomes much tougher.

If there is any positive take away from this injury, and it is very hard to say there is any, it is that the Celtics will now get to see what they really have in prospects Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. Brown, who was the Celtics’ number three pick in last year’s draft, has already stepped up in a big way for the Celtics, and it can be argued he has been the most impressive player on the team thus far, with averages of 18.8 points per game, and 5.8 rebounds per game.

Tatum has also impressed so far, as he is nearly averaging a double-double thus far with averages of 12.3 PPG, and 7.8 RPG. The Celtics must like what they’ve seen out of both Brown and Tatum, and the two should continue to grow as the season goes on.

Perhaps the man who will be most impacted by Hayward’s injury is James’ former running mate Kyrie Irving. Irving, who played alongside James on all three of the Cavs teams that made the NBA Finals from 2015-17, demanded a trade this past summer.

While most were shocked by Irving’s request, Irving had apparently wanted to step out of James’ shadow for some time and lead a team on his own. There is no denying Irving’s skill, as well as his ability to perform in clutch situations (many believe his shot in the 2016 NBA Finals handed the Cavs their first title ever).

However, many question Irving’s leadership and perhaps rightly so; before James returned to Cleveland in 2014, Irving had never made a playoff appearance, let alone a Final’s appearance. The Celtics championship hopes took a blow with Hayward’s injury, but does not necessarily eliminate them from contention. The young talent on this team, as well as veteran leaders like Irving and big-man Al Horford, will be able to keep the Celtics in the thick of things come playoff time.

However, how far the Celtics can go may ultimately revolve around Irving’s production. Irving reportedly told those close to him upon his trade request that he believed he could lead a team. With Hayward’s injury, Irving will now get the opportunity to prove that statement.