Boston Celtics: 2017-18 NBA season preview

The Boston Celtics overhauled their entire roster this offseason. Will the new talent lift this team to the heights of Boston’s storied past?

The Boston Celtics undertook an extreme makeover this offseason.

Signing max free agent Gordon Hayward and trading for Kyrie Irving were the most important moves they made, and the most discussed. But the turnover did not end there, as the team completely overhauled the roster. Of the 20 players currently in training camp for the Celtics, only four played on the team last season.

That means two things are happening during training camp and the preseason for Boston. They are first learning about each other as a team, building that necessary continuity that is so important to winning basketball games. On top of that, they are establishing a new hierarchy as Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley are replaced by Irving and Hayward.

Head coach Brad Stevens is the mastermind behind it all, tasked with guiding this team to excellence. His reputation is up to the challenge, and the entire organization must hope that the reality is as well.

With assets left to burn there is still the possibility Boston makes another move, but for now their roster is set. How will the new pieces fit together? And was the cost of adding both stars worth it? There are questions the team will be asking itself all season long.

2016-17 Vitals

53-29, 1st in Atlantic Division, 1st in Eastern Conference
108.0 PPG (7th)/105.4 OPP PPG (15th)
111.8 Offensive Rating (8th)/109.1 Defensive Rating (13th)

Team Leaders

Scoring:  Isaiah Thomas, 28.9 PPG
Rebounding:  Al Horford, 6.8 RPG
Assists:  Isaiah Thomas, 5.9 APG
Steals:  Marcus Smart,1.6 SPG
Blocks:  Al Horford, 1.3 BPG

Honors

All-Star: Isaiah Thomas
All-NBA Second Team: Isaiah Thomas
All-Rookie Second Team: Jaylen Brown