The Celtics have done the hard part; now comes the real test.

The Celtics have done the impossible. They've turned a traditional "Gap year" into championship contention. Currently sitting at the 2nd seed in the East, built upon an MVP-level leap from Jaylen Brown and a miraculous recovery from Jayson Tatum, the Celtics now have one goal: Make history.

What are they now? Boston not only has talent, they have structure. They have totally shifted their approach. They have gone from being a run-and-gun 3-point-shooting juggernaut to a more controlled tempo offense focused on off-ball movement to compensate for the lack of a primary creator. Their defense has been a similar story. They've shifted their focus from sophisticated, 1-0n-1 heavy defense to an aggressive, high-pressure approach to shift shots away from the basket. Pairing this with the return of Jayson Tatum, the Celtics have emerged as the best team in the East.

Has that been enough? The Celtics are great, but not flawless. We have seen time and time again that the Celtics lack late-game execution. This comes down to two things: they are missing out on veteran leadership, and simply don't have that "clutch gene". So, in an ideal world, regardless of what happens in the 2026 playoffs, it is clear that the Celtics should seek out a veteran guard who can handle a playmaking load and provide stability to the team.

How they will get it done:

Miami Heat receive: (F) Sam Hauser, 2 2026 second-round picks

Boston Celtics receive: (G) Davion Mitchell

Free Agency: Sign (G) Matisse Thybulle to a 3-year, $24 million contract, Sign (F) Marvin Bagley III to a 2-year, $14 million contract.

Why this works:

With Tatum's return and the emergence of young forwards Baylor Schierman and Hugo Gonzalez, it's not reasonable for the Celtics to continue paying Sam Hauser $11 million a year. This sentiment is also shared by Celtics GM Brad Stevens, who contemplated moving off of Hauser at this year's deadline. With this in mind, the Celtics use Hauser's contract and value as a spacer, along with 2nd round picks, to acquire Davion Mitchell. Mitchell has shown himself to be a primary and efficient creator, no matter the offensive scheme. He's also grown into a great perimeter defender for his size. Mitchell fits perfectly with the Celtics. His shooting and defensive prowess allow him to slot into the starting point guard spot, giving the Celtics a perfect switch off of Payton Pritchard, depending on their needs.

Using the Mid-Level-Exception, the Celtics can improve their depth at the guard and forward positions. Matisse Thybulle brings the veteran leadership while being a dog on defense. Marvin Bagley III brings efficient interior scoring and size to the backup forward position.

Celtics Potential 2026-27 starting lineup+bench:

PG: Payton Pritchard SG: Derrick White SF: Jaylen Brown PF: Jayson Tatum C: Nikola Vucevic

G: Davion Mitchell, Matisse Thybulle, Baylor Schierman F: Jordan Walsh, Marvin Bagley III, Hugo Gonzalez C: Neemias Queta, Luka Garza