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The Boston Celtics enter the 2019 offseason following a disappointing season in which they failed to become the new dominant force in the Eastern Conference.
LeBron James' move to the West provided Boston with an open path to the NBA Finals, however, chemistry issues were a problem throughout the year, and Brad Stevens' men were comprehensively eliminated by the Bucks in the semifinals.
However, the Celtics will once again be among the most active franchises this summer, and a blockbuster deal for Anthony Davis remains a possibility. Departures are also likely, and here are three individuals that are being backed to leave Boston this summer.
#3 Jayson Tatum
After enjoying a breakout 17-18 campaign, Jayson Tatum was expected to transform into the Celtics' second star this season. However, the 21-year-old struggled while sharing the court with the ball-dominant Kyrie Irving, and his future remains in doubt due to Boston's immediate desire to compete for a title.
To complete a deal for Anthony Davis, the Celtics will need to offer a comprehensive trade package, and Zack Rosenblatt of NJ.com believes that Tatum will be among the players sent to New Orleans:
If the Celtics do wind up losing Kyrie Irving to free agency, they’ll be in a difficult spot. If they want to contend right away, they’ll have to trade for a star-level player (a la Anthony Davis) and in order to make that happen, they’ll likely have to trade Tatum.
During the 18-19 season, Tatum averaged 15.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. When compared to his rookie season, Tatum's field goal percentage fell from 48% to, 45%, and his accuracy from beyond the arc also dropped from 43% to 37%.
#2 Kyrie Irving
The Celtics remain open to signing Kyrie Irving to a new long-term deal this summer, although the 27-year-old's future appears to be away from Boston.
Irving has continually refused to commit his future to the team he joined in 2017, and during a recent edition of The Herd Podcast, NBA analyst Colin Cowherd explained the current situation:
I’d be surprised if he stays in Boston. You see his body language. You hear enough smoke, you know there’s something going on here. Obviously, Kyrie’s kinda moody, he’s got a tight inner circle. But again, I don’t expect him to be in Boston. You could see it in the locker room and with his teammates, that they almost don’t know how to take to Kyrie Irving.
The Brooklyn Nets are the favorites to land Irving during free agency, although the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks are also believed to in contention.
#1 Al Horford
Al Horford was one of the few consistent performers for the Celtics during their disappointing season, and Hunter Felt of Forbes believes that the veteran will look to secure a long-term deal with a contending team this summer:
It’s no secret that Horford’s main goal is to win a championship and time is no longer on the veteran’s side. If the Celtics aren’t in a serious position to advance past the Eastern Conference Finals, Horford might very well sign someplace where he is in a better position to win a ring. Money might no longer be his primary motivation.
Horford has a $33.1 million player option in his contract for the 19-20 season, and he would attract plenty of interest on the open market. He averaged 13.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game during the 18-19 season.
