What might be left on Brad Stevens’ offseason to-do list?
With the biggest boxes checked — having made the difficult decision to deal away Jaylen Brown and then being forced to explain the team’s motivation in the aftermath — there is seemingly only some tidying up to complete before the start of the 2026-27 season.
That said, Stevens has to stay alert. The bigger judgment of the Brown trade won’t come until we see how Stevens maximizes the assets acquired. That is unlikely to be decided this summer.
But there are still a few other items to attend to, including …
The Payton Pritchard extension
Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Eric Hartline-Imagn Images Payton Pritchard will be eligible for a three-year extension worth up to \$67 million starting in October.
Pritchard is eligible for a three-year extension at up to $67 million starting in October. Both sides should seemingly be motivated to get a deal done.
For the Celtics, Pritchard’s four-year, $30 million extension has made him maybe the best value contract in the NBA. From Sixth Man of the Year on championship-level teams to thriving in a starting role last year, Pritchard is performing well beyond the $7.8 million (4.7 percent of the cap) that he’ll earn this season (and the $8.3 million he’s scheduled to earn in 2027-28). The bump to an average annual value of $22.3 million rewards Pritchard for his current impact and banks on his continuing to be an impact player on title-hunting teams through Jayson Tatum’s prime.
For Pritchard, an extension would be a chance to finally cash in after earning just under $25 million over the first six years of his NBA career. His current deal will take him through his age-30 season. He could wait through the 2025-26 season with hopes of tacking on an extra year of guaranteed money — with the very real chance that he’ll put up some glitzy numbers this year after the Celtics moved on from Brown.
Alas, the history of small guards suggests that guaranteed money shouldn’t be messed with. Pritchard would still have a chance to earn another decent-money deal when this potential extension expired after the 2030-31 season.
The Jordan Walsh extension
David Butler II-Imagn Images
David Butler II-Imagn Images Jordan Walsh should be one of Boston’s most motivated players for the 2026-27 season.
Jordan Walsh, still only 22 years old, is entering the final year of a rookie contract that will pay him what’s currently a team-low $2.4 million this season. He becomes extension eligible on July 20. Walsh’s playing time was inconsistent last year, though he had stretches where rival players were gushing about his potential to be one of the most impactful wing defenders in the league.
Walsh could bet on himself knowing that increased opportunity without Brown around might drive his price tag up next summer. The Celtics are also overflowing with long, defensive-minded wings, and Walsh will have to decide if — like Ron Harper Jr. to start this summer — there’s a long-term number that Boston could entice him with now.
A Walsh who is playing for his next contract might produce the most motivated player for the 2026-27 season.
Filling out the roster
The Celtics currently stand at 14 roster players after waiving Dalano Banton before the start of Summer League. The team has often entered seasons with an open roster spot to maximize flexibility and can do the necessary money juggling before the finish line of the season.
The Celtics have obvious motivation to once again duck the luxury tax, which would reset current repeater penalties and allow the team to splurge more freely over the next two summers.
Second-round draft pick Dillon Mitchell has played well enough at Summer League to make it a conversation about whether the team should simply roster him now. Boston has typically started their second-round picks on two-way deals, though many have earned in-season promotions by the end of their rookie campaigns.
Boston has two two-way slots available, with only Amari Williams inked to one of three available deals. Mitchell and John Tonje would seemingly be favorites to earn those spots, at least based on Summer League returns.
Milos Uzan and Tucker DeVries have signed training camp deals with Boston, per Spotrac. The Celtics would likely prefer to funnel them to Maine as affiliated players if they don’t find roster opportunities with other teams out of camp.
Any other deals out there?
While August tends to be a dead period for NBA transactions, it’s also the time that teams start taking a harder look at where their rosters stand before players start rolling in for the ramp to training camp.
The Celtics should feel confident about where the roster stands at the moment. The addition of Mitchell Robinson shored up the team’s biggest area of need this offseason and delivered a key contributor from a rival (and title) team. The Celtics’ roster is well balanced with the additions of Mike Conley and Paul George. Boston’s current depth chart:
Ball-handlers: Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Mike Conley
Wings & Swings: Jayson Tatum, Paul George, Sam Hauser, Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman, Ron Harper Jr., Jordan Walsh
Bigs: Neemias Queta, Mitchell Robinson, Luka Garza, Chris Cenac Jr.
Two-way: Amari Williams, TBD x 2
John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images The Celtics’ signing of Mitchell Robinson addressed their glaring need for frontcourt depth.
The Celtics are well-stocked at wings and swings. We suspect Boston will tread cautiously with playing time for both Conley and George, allowing younger players to continue to get necessary reps.
We’d also suspect that the team would wait until the season to make decisions on any areas of need. Hauser’s name will perpetually dance in trade speculation because of Boston’s depth and his manageable cap number. But his 3-point output could continue to be vital for a team that might double down on attempts from deep, especially with Robinson now on board to help track the misfires.
The big question — whenever the next opportunity presents itself — is whether Boston can utilize available salaries and its beefed-up collection of future picks to get in whenever the next disgruntled player hits the market.
Every season, a superstar balks at their situation. Boston has the necessary pieces — and, ahem, optionality — to at least entertain any pursuit.
Club options by end of October
The Celtics have until the end of October (when the 2026-27 season will have already started) to trigger the club options on draftees Hugo Gonzalez and Baylor Scheierman. That’s just a formality for rookie deals. Scheierman is extension eligible next summer.
