Free-Falling From the Mountain Top

The Boston Celtics are in the midst of a significant talent drain

The Boston Celtics’ talent drain is in full swing. We’ve already discussed the departures of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. And we’ve compartmentalized why both of those moves made sense from a financial standpoint.

However, if you’re like me, you came into the free agency period with the hope that one of Luke Kornet or Al Horford would still be donning Celtics green next season.

To be fair, that could still happen. However, those chances have decreased by 50%.

On Sunday, Luke Kornet signed a four-year $41 million deal with the San Antonio Spurs.

I couldn’t be happier for him. He joined the Celtics as a player clawing for the slightest thread, trying everything to stay in the NBA. He ends his tenure with the same team as one of the best backup big men in the NBA. He evolved. He put in the work and got the reward.

Those are the stories that make you fall in love with sports. That injects a sprinkling of magic into the NBA and what can be accomplished.

The problem is that the sprinkling of magic completely missed the Celtics.

Because, right now, the center rotation reads: Neemias Queta, Amari Williams (maybe), Luka Garza (more on this in a moment) and Xavier Tillman. That’s it. That’s the list.

Horford may or may not return. Adam Himmelsbach recently reported that he is still mulling over his options.

“I’m told Al Horford continues to mull potential options for next season and at the moment appears unlikely to have a final decision on the first day of free agency tomorrow,” Himmelsbach wrote on X.

There are three options that I can see.

1. Horford re-signs with the Celtics and sticks with the franchise, forgoing a shot at another ring.

2. He retires. Heads off into the sunset with his wife, kids and a championship ring to show for his troubles.

3. He seeks out a contending-level roster and takes another run at adding a second championship to his resume.

On Sunday, Jake Fischer and Marc Stein reported that Horford is drawing interest from the Golden State Warriors.

"League sources say veteran center Al Horford will be a top target for Golden State," Stein and Fischer reported.

You can buy into the Warriors’ interest as much or as little as you want. However, when Kevon Looney inked a two-year $16 million contract with the New Orleans Pelicans, ending a decade-long partnership with the Warriors, my heart sank a little.

Why would the Warriors let Looney — a proven contributor in their system — leave? That is, unless they believe they’ve landed a replacement/upgrade at his position. And who could that replacement/upgrade be?

…..Maybe Horford?

“A league source said the Celtics, Warriors, Knicks, Lakers, and Cavaliers have expressed interest in the 39-year-old forward,” Himmelsbach reported on July 1. “A second source said the Warriors are believed to be the leading candidates. That possibility appeared to become more likely when Golden State’s longtime big man Kevon Looney reportedly agreed to a two-year deal with the Pelicans.”

And if that is the case, then what does that mean for Boston? Is Garza really the answer? I mean, he hasn’t looked good in his NBA minutes. If anything, he projects as a tweener — too good for the G League, but not quite ready to make his mark in the NBA.

Stevens clearly sees something in him. Why else would he sign him to a two-year $5.5 million deal?

The problem isn’t that Garza may or may not click. It’s that there’s no one on the roster to step up and make the starting role their own. We’re going from Porzingis and Horford to Queta and Garza.

That’s like going from Tommahawk and T-Bone to Rump and Braising.

Now, this is no shade on Queta or Garza. I like both of their games. However, the harsh truth is that there are holes in their current skill set. Holes that can and will be exploited. Suddenly, a position of significant strength within the roster has collapsed on itself.

A singularity has formed.

To make matters worse, the problem isn’t confined to the center rotation. Boston is mind-boggling light at the four. Outside of Georges Niang and maybe Sam Hauser, I’m struggling to see who slots into that spot on a consistent basis.

Maybe a heavy dose of double-big? But do you want a lineup of Derrick White, Anfernee Simons, Jaylen Brown, Tillman and Queta? Is that a winning formula? Like, really?

…But wait…There’s more….

“The Celtics, according to league sources, will consider ways to dip below the $188 million tax line as they move forward this summer,” Himmelsbach reported. “With Garza’s salary on the books they will be about $17 million above that threshold. The team could look to trade Anfernee Simons, who was acquired in last week’s deal that sent fellow guard Jrue Holiday to the Trail Blazers and has a $27.7 million expiring contract. Niang, meanwhile, will make $8.2 million on an expiring deal.”

Not only does the Celtics front-court rotation look like an aberration, the talent drain could potentially continue. If Brad Stevens is looking to shed more salary, but Jaylen Brown and Derrick White are sticking around, then the franchise must sacrifice additional depth.

I get the idea of creating future flexibility. I also get the notion of generating high-quality picks based on a down year. And, the hope is that Hugo Gonzalez, Garza, or some other flyer can pop and skyrocket their trade value.

What I don’t get — or maybe I do, but don’t want to face up to it — is how quickly the thread has been pulled. We've gone from discussing a potential dynasty to wondering how the team will survive the season with its current frontcourt.

Given the Celtics' current financial position, it’s difficult to project how they get themselves back on level footing. They’re still free-falling down the mountain after spending the last 12 months perched up top. Until they reach the bottom, finding a way to climb back up will be difficult.

The only thing that’s clear to me right now is that any potential upgrades or significant changes will come via the trade market. The Celtics have a $25 million traded player exception. They have a bunch of draft picks. And, they have tradable players — stars or otherwise.

Stevens has the pieces to take a swing.

Timing is everything, though. And, if we’re reading between the lines, it feels like we’re being told what to expect without the quiet part being said out loud. So, let me say it…The Celtics aren’t trying to be good this year. They’re not searching for the next All-Star to share the floor with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. They’re tearing things down to the studs.

Then, when Tatum is cleared to play and is back in the rotation, Stevens will get to work on his renovation project. Hopefully, with some cheap assets who’ve outplayed their deals. Maybe with a sophomore forward out of Europe who has proven himself to be a viable rotation piece for years to come. And, if things really go to plan, maybe a top-tier pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Only then are we likely to see Stevens start dipping into his bag of tricks.

Unfortunately, that means wading through a season of suck.

So, while I acknowledge things could get way better in the blink of an eye, I’m going to be approaching the rest of the summer with a cautious pessimism born out of optimism for what the future holds.

And let’s be honest, covering a rebuilding team is fun — so much Xs and Os and player development to keep track of…See, always a silver lining.