Everyone thought the dynasty was just beginning. Then, the summer of 2025 hit like a freight train. Jayson Tatum went down with a torn Achilles in the playoffs, and suddenly, Brad Stevens wasn't just "tweaking" a championship roster—he was performing open-heart surgery on it. If you haven't been paying attention to the new Boston Celtics players filling the gaps at TD Garden this season, you’re looking at a completely different basketball team. This isn't the "stay-the-course" group from a year ago. It’s a scrappy, faster, and frankly, much cheaper experiment.
Money talks. Specifically, the "second apron" of the NBA luxury tax talks, and it told the Celtics they couldn't keep everyone. Out went Jrue Holiday. Out went Kristaps Porzingis. Even Al Horford moved on. What’s left is a fascinating cocktail of high-upside youth and "second-chance" veterans trying to keep Jaylen Brown and Derrick White afloat in a brutal Eastern Conference.
The Anfernee Simons Gamble
The biggest name among the new Boston Celtics players is undoubtedly Anfernee Simons. Let’s be real: trading a defensive mastermind like Jrue Holiday for a 26-year-old scoring guard is a massive philosophical pivot. Joe Mazzulla has basically decided that if you can't stop teams with a legendary perimeter defense anymore, you might as well just outrun them.
Simons is an offensive flamethrower. He’s already had games this season, like that 39-point explosion off the bench, where he looks like the best pure shooter the Celtics have had since Ray Allen. But there’s a catch. He’s not Jrue. He’s a "liability" is a harsh word, but let’s just say he’s not winning any Defensive Player of the Year awards. The Celtics are currently asking him to be a secondary playmaker alongside Payton Pritchard, and while the scoring is there (averaging roughly 15-18 points), the defensive chemistry is still a work in progress.
Why Chris Boucher and Luka Garza Matter More Than You Think
With Porzingis traded and Horford gone, the frontcourt was a giant "Help Wanted" sign. Enter Chris Boucher and Luka Garza. Honestly, Boucher is exactly what this team needed for the bench—a chaotic, 6-foot-8 pogo stick who can block a shot and then sprint to the corner to hit a three. He’s erratic, sure. But his energy has been infectious during this 2025-26 run.
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Then there’s Luka Garza. Most fans saw him as a "break glass in case of emergency" signing. Wrong. With Neemias Queta stepping into a larger role, Garza has become a legitimate rotational piece. He’s not the fleetest of foot, but the man knows how to use his 243-pound frame. He’s been surprisingly productive in limited minutes, particularly on the offensive glass. It’s a "strength in numbers" approach to the center position that we haven't seen in Boston for a long time.
The Youth Movement: Hugo González and the 2025 Class
If you’re looking for the long-term future of the new Boston Celtics players, look at Hugo González. Drafted 28th overall out of Real Madrid, the 19-year-old is the definition of "raw." He’s a 6-foot-6 wing with elite athleticism, but his jump shot is still a "maybe" at best.
Brad Stevens is playing the long game here. While González has seen some NBA minutes due to injuries to guys like Josh Minott, he’s spent a significant chunk of time with the Maine Red Claws. The same goes for second-rounders Amari Williams and Max Shulga.
- Hugo González: Elite defensive potential, needs to fix the 30% clip from deep.
- Amari Williams: A 6-foot-11 defensive specialist from Kentucky who is essentially Queta’s insurance policy.
- Josh Minott: A "sleeper" addition from Minnesota. His per-36 minute stats are eye-popping (16.7 points, 6.1 rebounds), but he’s struggled to stay healthy early in 2026.
The Reality of the 2025-26 Season
The Celtics are currently sitting in third place in the East. That sounds great, but it feels different. They aren't steamrolling people. They’re winning high-scoring track meets. Without Tatum, Jaylen Brown has had to carry a monstrous load, occasionally dropping 40+ points just to keep them in games.
The most interesting part? The "new" guys are the ones pushing the pace. Payton Pritchard and Anfernee Simons are playing a brand of "early offense" that Mazzulla has been preaching all training camp. It’s chaotic. It’s sometimes messy. But it’s the only way this specific roster survives until Tatum (hopefully) returns.
Actionable Insights for Celtics Fans
Keep an eye on the trade deadline. Because the Celtics successfully got under the second apron by moving Holiday and Porzingis, they actually have a bit of flexibility again. If Anfernee Simons continues to score at this rate, he could be the piece that brings in a more defensive-minded wing.
Watch the development of Jordan Walsh and Baylor Scheierman. These aren't just "bench warmers" anymore; they are the cheap labor required to keep a team with two $50 million players (Tatum and Brown) legal under NBA rules. If Walsh can't find his offensive rhythm soon, don't be surprised if his minutes go entirely to the rookie González by the time the playoffs roll around. The 2026 Celtics are a laboratory, and the results are still being analyzed.