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Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla. Peter Casey-Imagn Images

Biggest potential flaw for Celtics ahead of 2024-25 season

By Adam Taylor | Last updated 10/15/24

The Boston Celtics enter the 2024-25 season aiming to secure back-to-back championships. This summer, Celtics executive Brad Stevens locked down the long-term future of multiple core pieces of head coach Joe Mazzulla's rotation. The Celtics' lack of turnover is why they're considered the favorite to again win the NBA Finals, according to DraftKings.

Only Oshae Brissett and Svi Mykhailiuk left the Celtics this summer. However, their departures are precisely why the franchise's biggest flaw heading into the new season is the lack of wing depth on the bench.

Mazzulla has an embarrassment of riches to choose from in his top- eight or top-nine rotation. Nevertheless, Mykhailiuk and Brissett played key depth roles last season. Neither has been adequately replaced this summer.

Baylor Scheierman, the 30th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, is Boston's only wing addition to the roster. His struggles during preseason likely mean he will spend most of the season with the Maine Celtics in the G League.

With only one open roster spot, Stevens must decide who he wants to add to the rotation. It's important to have viable backups for Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Sam Hauser.

Lonnie Walker IV could potentially be a strong addition. However, the $11M it could cost the franchise may give the front office cold feet. The Celtics must weigh Walker's price vs. the return on investment his production could provide, especially as he would be a deep rotation player.

Right now, the Celtics are at a $3.75 tax multiplier for every $1 spent. Keeping Walker would nudge them to the next bracket and put them at a $4.25 tax multiplier for every $1 spent.

For Walker, who would be on the vet minimum of about $2.1M, that would be an additional tax hit… https://t.co/8E8KrQnHYE
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) October 14, 2024

A sticking point for the Celtics is that they're a second-apron luxury tax team. It makes more sense for them to head into the new season with an open roster spot. Boston could save millions in tax penalties by signing a player later in the season. The downside is that some of the better remaining free agents could be off the board by then.

Brissett was important to the Celtics because of his defensive upside and energy. He is still a free agent, and re-signing him would likely solve the team's current lack of depth on the wing. He decided to test free agency after winning a championship, but the interest in his services is probably less than he expected.

Whoever the Celtics add with the final roster spot probably won't play a big role. But knowing there's another body to step up in the event of injury, suspension or another issue is essential.

Boston was the deepest team in the NBA last season. If the Celtics make the right call when rounding out their roster, the same will be true for this season.

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