Despite all the movement so far in this offseason, the Boston Celtics still have one of the best backcourts in the eastern conference.

Though Jayson Tatum will likely be out of the 2025-26 season due to an achilles injury and Jrue Holiday gone, the C’s guard play has still taken a step up. Jaylen Brown is still one of the best players in the league, this past season he averaged 22 points, and 5 boards a night. Reigning Sixth Man of the Year Payton Pritchard is back and will only get better. Long as Pritchard doesn’t get the starting job, I’m happy with him coming off the bench. Then there’s Derrick White, a player that is truly an all-star caliber guy that’s cool with being a role player.

Then there’s Anfernee Simons that was dealt to the C’s from the Trailblazers. He’s been in the league since 2018, and played 70 games this past season averaging 19 points a night. A 26-year-old guard that plays downhill and lethal off of the pick and roll game. With catch and shoot guys such as White and Pritchard, Celtics can go up against any guards this upcoming season. Simons can also knock it down from deep too.

The New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers may have something to say about that. However, Simons adds youth to the Celtics that played a factor in its playoff exit to the New York. Brad Stevens knew that the team had to get younger as Brown and Tatum enter their prime years.

With Dame Lillard back to the west, Tyrese Haliburton out due to injury — the other actual threats have taken a step down in that department.

Now if I’m speaking about the front court, that’s a completely different story. The Celtics still have some things to figure out. They didn’t find the immediate answer through the draft. Al Horford is out of Boston, and Kristaps Porzingis as well. The interior defense for the Celtics is nonexistent. That will need to be fixed, but the C’s are strong with the guards.