The 2026-27 Boston Celtics will be almost unrecognizable to those who have followed the team closely over the last decade.
After 10 memorable seasons with Boston, superstar Jaylen Brown was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday in exchange for Paul George, two first-round draft picks, and two second-rounders. The move was met with stunned reactions across the NBA world as Brown will continue his career with a storied Eastern Conference rival — one that ended Boston’s season in the first round of the 2026 playoffs.
The Celtics also were criticized for bringing in George, who turned 36 in May and will be owed about $57.7 million in 2026-27. It’s hard to believe Boston couldn’t have gotten a better return for someone of Brown’s caliber.
Nonetheless, the C’s will move on without their 2024 NBA Finals MVP and with a new-look roster already taking shape. They addressed their need for frontcourt depth by signing ex-New York Knicks big man Mitchell Robinson in free agency and added guard depth with veteran Mike Conley Jr.
Here’s a full breakdown of the Celtics’ roster, contract situations, and more following the Brown trade:
Updated depth chart
A Celtics depth chart without Jaylen Brown will take some getting used to. Paul George replaces Brown in the C’s projected starting lineup.
Mitchell Robinson gives Boston much-needed frontcourt depth behind Neemias Queta. Mike Conley will provide the Celtics with guard depth behind Derrick White and Payton Pritchard, while bringing a respected veteran voice to the locker room.
Draft picks Chris Cenac Jr. and Dillon Mitchell will almost certainly spend the season in Maine.
Contracts
- Jayson Tatum: $58.5 million for 2026-27 (contract expires after 2028-29; includes player option for 2029-30)
- Paul George: $57.7 million (player option for 2028-29)
- Derrick White: $30.3 million (expires after 2027-28; player option for 2028-29)
- Mitchell Robinson: $15 million (expires after 2028-29)
- Sam Hauser: $10.8 million (expires after 2028-29)
- Payton Pritchard: $7.8 million (expires after 2027-28)
- Ron Harper Jr.: $3 million (expires after 2028-29)
- Hugo Gonzalez: $2.9 million (team options for 2027-28 and 2028-29)
- Luka Garza: $2.8 million (expires after 2026-27)
- Dalano Banton: $2.8 million (expires after 2026-27)
- Baylor Scheierman: $2.7 million (team option for 2027-28)
- Neemias Queta: $2.7 million (expires after 2026-27)
- Jordan Walsh: $2.4 million (expires after 2026-27)
- Mike Conley Jr: $2.4 million (expires after 2026-27)
- Amari Williams: Two-way
George’s contract includes a 15 percent trade kicker, bumping his $54.1 million salary for 2026-27 up to the 35 percent max of approximately $57.7 million. His bloated contract makes acquiring him in exchange for Brown even more of a head-scratcher, as Boston’s cap situation remains virtually unchanged.
Harper re-signed with the Celtics on a three-year, $9 million contract. Boston exercised Banton, Queta, and Walsh’s team options.
Robinson signed a three-year, $47.4 million contract in free agency. Conley joined on the veteran minimum.
Rookies
- Chris Cenac Jr. (27th overall pick in 2026 NBA Draft)
- Dillon Mitchell (40th overall pick in 2026 NBA Draft)
Cenac and Mitchell are expected to sign two-way contracts and begin the 2026-27 season with the G League Maine Celtics.
Unrestricted free agents
Shulga, a 2025 second-round pick, didn’t get his team option picked up and is now an unrestricted free agent. The VCU product appeared in 11 games for Boston last season.
Tonje was acquired by the Celtics in exchange for Chris Boucher and a future second-round pick at the NBA trade deadline in February. He signed a two-way contract with the C’s on March 1.
Tonje appeared in six regular-season games for the Celtics, including a season-high 13 points against the Magic in the regular-season finale. Boston didn’t pick up his team option this summer.
Draft picks and TPEs
Future first-round draft picks
- 2027: Own
- 2028: Top-1 protected first-round pick swap with Spurs
- 2028: Most favorable of Sixers or Clippers
- 2029: Traded away (will go to Blazers or Wizards)
- 2030: Own
- 2031: Own
- 2031: Unprotected Sixers pick
The Celtics received a 2028 first-rounder and a 2031 unprotected first-rounder from Philly in the Brown trade. They also acquired two second-round selections.
Notable traded player exceptions
The Celtics created a huge $27.7 million TPE in the Anfernee Simons trade, which expires at the 2027 trade deadline.
They also have an $8.4 million TPE from the Georges Niang trade and a $4.7 million TPE from the Jrue Holiday trade.
