Celtics players expectations in three words

Coming off a championship, you would think the pressure on the Celtics would be a little more relaxed heading into the 2024-25 season, right? Well, it didn’t really work out that way.

In an offseason of disrespect and slander towards the Celtics superstars and the team as a whole, it feels like this group is hungrier and ready to repeat as champions this coming season.

So with this in mind, I decided to give my take on every Celtics player’s expectations heading into the 2024-25 in three words.

Jayson Tatum: Most Valuable Player

I really think this is Jayson Tatum’s best chance at winning the MVP award.

After winning a championship, gracing the covers of 2K25 and Sports Illustrated, and welcoming the birth of his second child, Jayson Tatum had one amazing offseason. However, with the disrespect shown to him at the Olympics this year, it feels like Tatum is coming into this season with something to prove. Kristaps Porzingis is going to be out to start the season and someone has to make up that production.

Why can’t it be Tatum?

I predict we will see Tatum come out firing and put up scoring numbers similar to the 2022-23 season where he was the first Celtics player ever to average over 30 points per game in a season.

Jaylen Brown: Out For Blood

Coming off a Finals MVP and an incredible playoff run, it feels like Jaylen Brown still hasn’t gotten the respect that he deserves.

Brown has only gotten better every single season he has been in the NBA. He went from a player with high potential upside coming out of the draft to an absolute superstar and top-20 player in the NBA.

It still baffles me to this day that Brown wasn’t chosen to play in the Olympics but none of that matters now. As he said himself, Jaylen Brown is out for blood this season, and the league should be absolutely terrified.

Kristaps Porzingis: Healthy For Playoffs

Everyone remembers when Kristaps Porzingis went down in Game 4 of the first round vs. Miami and came back for Game 1 of the NBA Finals to put on a show, dropping 20 points on 8-13 shooting.

However this season, Kristaps Porzingis is going to miss the start of the year recovering from surgery that repaired a torn retinaculum and dislocated posterior tibialis tendon. Best case scenario, Porzingis will be back in December but the biggest thing the Celtics need from him is to be healthy for the postseason in April, May, and June.

The Eastern Conference has gotten a lot better this offseason and even though last season it felt like Porzingis was a luxury, the Celtics will need him to be healthy and play in their quest to repeat as champions. Start praying to the basketball gods.

Derrick White: All-Star Season

If I had to give my biggest hot take, it would be the Celtics will have three All-Stars this season: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Derrick White.

White had averages of 15.2 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.2 rebounds last season in arguably the best season of his career and there was a legitimate argument that he could’ve been an All-Star last year. However, there were multiple long stretches throughout the season where White was averaging over 20 points per game on great efficiency while still playing elite defense.

With Porzingis missing time, I think White is going to thrive and become the no doubt third scoring option on the Celtics while still providing his elite defense and rim protection. I can’t wait to see him repping the team in San Francisco.

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Jrue Holiday: Repeat Last Season

If I had to describe Jrue Holiday in one word, it would be winner. Whether it’s Milwaukee, Boston, Tokyo, or Paris, Jrue Holiday shows up, plays his game, and wins.

When Holiday was traded to Boston last season, everyone knew he was going to be a great addition with his defense, but I don’t know if anyone expected him to be such a seamless fit offensively as well, specifically being an over 60% shooter from corner threes last year.

If Holiday can provide another season of elite defense and great shooting, I don’t know what more you can ask from him.

Al Horford: Anything is Amazing

Al Horford is an ageless wonder. At 38 years old, Horford was the starting center on an NBA championship team. But not only was he a starting center, he won multiple games for the Celtics during their playoff run, most notably Game 5 against Cleveland when he scored 22 points on six three pointers to advance the Celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Horford is going into his 18th year in the NBA this season and it looks like there is no sign of him slowing down. Just like Holiday in a way, if Horford can replicate the production he has given the Celtics over the last couple years, I will be happy.

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Payton Pritchard: Sixth Man Breakout

Payton Pritchard has had one heck of a year this year. You can argue his great year started in the preseason when he signed a 4 year, $30 million contract extension to stay with the Celtics. He put up the best numbers of his career in the regular season, hit the longest buzzer beater in NBA Finals history, and also got married to his now wife in August.

When it comes to Pritchard’s expectations this season, I think you can see him become a legitimate Sixth Man of the Year candidate. Pritchard is the ultimate energy guy coming off the bench for the Celtics and I can see him getting a lot of minutes early in the season if they need to give Holiday or White time off.

Don’t be surprised if you see a double-digit scoring, breakout season from Payton Pritchard this year.

Sam Hauser: More Automatic Shooting

When we think about some of Brad Stevens best moves as the GM of the Celtics, signing Sam Hauser as an undrafted free agent could be up there when it comes to Brad’s ability to scout talent.

Ever since Sam Hauser has come into the league, he has always been able to make his threes. Last season he was his best season as he averaged 42.4% from three on 5.9 attempts per game. Being able to hold his own on the defensive end has made Hauser into an everyday player and netted him a 4-year, $45 million contract extension.

I think he is going to continue playing his role perfectly, and maybe he will have another 30+ point game like he did on St. Patrick’s Day last year against the Wizards.

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Luke Kornet: Serviceable Backup Center

Everybody loves Luke Kornet for his celebrations on the court and his funny postgame interviews, but people forget he’s also a pretty solid backup center.

Against the right matchups, Luke Kornet can look like one of the better backup bigs in the NBA. With Porzingis out to begin the year and Horford not playing back to backs, you could see Luke Kornet in the starting lineup in certain situations this season. His rebounding and touch around the rim have improved immensely since he came to Boston and he’s also been a pretty good lob threat as well.

One day, I would hope to see Kornet take more threes again like he did earlier in his career, but the role he plays for the Celtics now is just fine and I don’t see them changing it anytime soon.

Xavier Tillman: Potential X Factor

Another notch on Brad Stevens’ belt was trading for Xavier Tillman at last year’s trade deadline. Tillman didn’t get off to the greatest start in Boston, but he was huge off the bench in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

Tillman is best known for his defense but when he first came to Boston, he was taking a good amount of corner three pointers. I feel like the Celtics want to expand his game and make him a legitimate stretch five and potentially be the successor to Al Horford. Will it happen? I guess we’ll have to wait and see but he will get plenty of opportunities to play this season and you could maybe even see him start a few games early in the year. A full offseason in the system can turn him into a great player and be a very utilized weapon for the Celtics bench.

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Neemias Queta: Secret Hidden Gem

I want to preface this by saying I love Neemias Queta’s game. He reminds me so much of Robert Williams when he was on the Celtics.

Just like Tillman and Kornet, Queta could find himself playing a lot of minutes early on in the season. He gives the Celtics another element when he’s on the court as a paint monster, grabbing rebounds, blocking shots, and catching lobs.

If Neemias Queta can get legitimate minutes this year, I think this will be the Celtics diamond in the rough to have a breakout year.

Jaden Springer: Potential Spark Plug

When the Celtics traded for Jaden Springer at the deadline last year, I didn’t know much about him. But after watching what he was doing with the 76ers before the trade, I can say I am very excited for his future in Boston.

Springer is going to be 22 years old and I think we can see him potentially fill Oshae Brissett’s role with the Celtics. Springer, like Brissett, isn’t known for his shooting ability, but the energy and defensive intensity he brings when he checks into the game could be an energy shifter. He also reminds me of a young Avery Bradley and if he can be anything close to Bradley, he will find a role on this team.

Jordan Walsh: Continue to Develop

Jordan Walsh showed a lot of flashes of what he could potentially become in the G League last season with the Maine Celtics.

Walsh averaged 14.7 Points, 7.5 Rebounds, and shot 36% from three last season on 5.7 attempts per game. He played pretty solid defense all around, but had a pretty rough Summer League this year. This is another year where Walsh is going to develop and maybe he can be a piece to the Celtics rotation this season.

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JD Davison: Make or Break

JD Davison had a great year with the Maine Celtics last year averaging 20.8 points, 8.6 assists, and 5.4 rebounds per game. However, his lack of three-point shooting and defense has kept him out of the Celtics rotation.

Davison will most likely spend another year in the G League this and I hope he becomes a good three-point shooter. His athleticism and passing skills are very fun to watch but if he is going to be a real contributor to the Celtics roster, he is going to have to make a leap.

Drew Peterson: Depth in Maine

Drew Peterson is another guy on this Celtics team that spent most of the season in the G League. Standing at 6’ 9”, Peterson averaged 16.1 Points on 37% from three with the Maine Celtics.

Like Davison, Peterson will most likely spend next year in the G League. But if he can become a 40% three-point shooter, one day you could see Peterson finding a role similar to Sam Hauser.

Baylor Scheierman: Might Get Minutes

Believe it or not, Baylor Scheierman is the first player to be drafted in the first round under Brad Stevens since he took over as the Celtics GM before the 2021-22 season.

Scheierman was a standout at Creighton averaging 15.5 Points, 8.6 Rebounds, and 3.6 Assists on 54/37/86 shooting splits in the two years he was with the Bluejays. He has a beautiful lefty stroke and he is really good at making the right play anytime he’s on the court.

After a good debut in the Celtics Summer League opener, Scheierman seemed to struggle to find his shot. However, I think he has the potential to fill Svi Mykhailiuk’s role for Boston and if he can find his three-point shot consistently, you could see him playing some minutes with the Celtics.

Anton Watson: Potential Future Piece?

Anton Watson was the 2nd round pick of the Celtics this season after spending five seasons at Gonzaga. Every year he was in college, Watson was able to improve his game as in his final year; he was averaging 14.5 points and 7.1 rebounds and had 58/41/65 shooting splits.

Watson stood out to me in Vegas. Like Scheierman, he seemed to always make the right play at the right time and was able to be a pretty good corner three-point shooter. I’m not sure if Watson will ever become a piece in the Celtics rotation but I really like his game and in a few years, he could be pretty good with Boston.

Lonnie Walker: Could Make Team

Technically, Lonnie Walker is a part of the Celtics right now after he signed an Exhibit 10 training camp contract, but I wanted to talk about him here anyway.

If Lonnie Walker is about to make the Celtics roster out of training camp, the Celtics might have robbed the rest of the league blind. Walker averaged 9.7 points on 38.4% shooting from three and he could fit perfectly Joe Mazzulla’s system. Walker would give the Celtics even more depth and even more weapons that Joe Mazzulla could play with throughout the year and that’s dangerous for the rest of the NBA.