ESPN unveils its 2023-24 win-loss record prediction for Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston.
The Boston Celtics have not finished the regular season atop the Eastern Conference standings since 2016-17. ESPN is predicting that drought will
end during the upcoming 2023-24 campaign.
We’re getting to the point in the NBA offseason where season predictions are starting to roll in, and on Wednesday ESPN unveiled it’s win-loss
projections for each Eastern Conference team.
They have the Celtics finishing 55-27 in first place. ESPN also predicts the Milwaukee Bucks to finish a game behind the Celtics at 54-28, while
the Cleveland Cavaliers are the only other East team projected to win 50-plus games at 50-32.
The Celtics have finished second in the East in back-to-back seasons. They have won 50 or more games in four of the last seven seasons. In two of
those three seasons the C’s didn’t reach 50 wins, they won 49 (2018-19) and 48 (2019-20). So they’ve been pretty consistent since Jaylen
Brown and Jayson Tatum were drafted in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
On paper, the Celtics have one of their best rosters in a long time. Tatum and Brown were both All-NBA players last season. Malcolm Brogdon was
the Sixth Man of the Year Award winner. Al Horford and Robert Williams are back, too. Derrick White should play a larger role as the starting point
guard. The major offseason transaction was center Kristaps Porzingis being acquired from the Washington Wizards via trade and point guard Marcus
Smart being dealt to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Tatum, Brown and Porzingis are all capable of scoring 20-plus points per game. The last time the Celtics had three 20-point scorers was 2019-20.
Boston’s roster has plenty of outside shooting, too. The Celtics ranked second in 3-point shots taken per game and sixth in 3-point percentage last
season, and we should expect similar results in 2023-24.
The real question mark is defense. The departure of Smart is a huge loss on that end of the floor. Williams, Horford and Porzingis are all very good
defenders, but can they stay healthy for a full season? Williams and Porzingis have long injury histories, while Horford is 37 years old. The Celtics
were good defensively last season but often failed to reach the level they hit for most of 2021-22 that led to an NBA Finals berth.
Barring significant injuries, the Celtics should be the No. 1 or No. 2 seed again in the East. But ultimately, winning Banner 18 is going to determine
whether the 2023-24 season is a success or failure for the Celtics.
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Report: Celtics work out Glen Robinson III
The Boston Celtics are leaving no stone unturned in their search for another wing to add to the roster. According to a report by SNY’s Ian Begley, the
Celtics have added another name to their list of targets in the form of Glen Robinson III, and recently brought him in for a workout.
Robinson III is a seven-year NBA veteran, having entered the NBA as the 40th overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft. During his career, Robinson III
has had spells with seven teams, making him the definition of a journeyman in the NBA. Still, the veteran wing can provide low-usage scoring and
isn’t a slouch on the defensive end.
Boston is also expected to work out veteran scorer TJ Warren, who is one year removed from a foot injury that kept him out of the 2021-22 season.
Along with Warren, defensive-minded wing Lamar Stevens is expected to attend a workout, as is former Philadelphia 76ers two-way player Louis
King.
With two open roster spots, the Celtics could theoretically add two wings to their roster in the coming weeks. However, the more logical approach
that we have seen Stevens take before is that Boston will add one more player and then head into the new season with one open roster spot.
Boston has a $6 million TPE courtesy of the Grant Williams sign-and-trade, which could allow them to be players in the buyout market — a team can
use a TPE to acquire a player off waivers as long as their salary fits within the TPE amount.
Regardless of whether the Celtics decide to add one or two more players before the start of the season, it’s clear Stevens is doing his due diligence to
ensure whoever he brings in helps elevate the skillsets currently on the roster.
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