For the Boston Celtics, years of falling just short prompted a bold offseason reset. Crickex Affiliate sources confirm the team made two blockbuster trades this summer, landing Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday. In the process, they parted ways with key contributors from last season—Marcus Smart, Grant Williams, Robert Williams III, and Malcolm Brogdon. President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens made decisive moves, believing that keeping the status quo wouldn’t bring a title back to Boston.
Milwaukee’s trade for Damian Lillard only strengthened that belief. In last season’s playoffs, Boston’s interior defense crumbled without a healthy Robert Williams, forcing aging Al Horford to shoulder the load. Horford’s three-point shooting also went cold, exposing the need for frontcourt reinforcements. Porzingis, with his height, shooting range, and versatility, may be the Celtics’ most dynamic big man since Kevin Garnett. If he stays healthy, the combination of Porzingis and Horford could present a daunting challenge in the paint for any opponent.
The acquisition of Jrue Holiday was equally strategic and reactionary. After Lillard joined the Bucks, Boston wasted no time shoring up its backcourt. While the Celtics had options at point guard—Smart, Brogdon, and Derrick White—all had limitations that capped the team’s ceiling. Holiday, a proven champion with Finals and Olympic experience, brings elite defense and unselfish play. He’s one of the league’s most underrated stars, and his presence fills the team’s biggest gap. More importantly, he provides the maturity and grit needed to elevate Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown on the biggest stage.
Still, the Celtics’ fate ultimately lies in the hands of Tatum and Brown. Both are now on supermax contracts and carry enormous expectations but have yet to deliver a championship. Whether they can finally break through and bring the Celtics back to the top remains the defining question of this season.
Meanwhile, the Toronto Raptors appear stuck in no man’s land. Since losing head coach Nick Nurse and point guard Fred VanVleet, their championship pedigree has faded. Crickex Affiliate analysts note that the Raptors boast a physically gifted forward lineup—Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes, OG Anunoby, Chris Boucher, and Jalen McDaniels—all long, athletic, and versatile enough for the modern NBA.
But losing VanVleet without a financial match left a glaring hole in the backcourt. Germany’s Dennis Schröder, fresh off a breakout FIBA World Cup, now shoulders point guard duties. As the saying goes, giving up your dream for comfort is a steeper price than failure. Schröder shined internationally but has yet to prove himself as a playoff-caliber starting guard in the NBA. Still, with a supporting cast of Gary Trent Jr., Gradey Dick, and Malachi Flynn, the Raptors’ guard rotation looks serviceable for a team without high expectations.
Toronto has never been known for tanking, but they now find themselves in a familiar spot—too strong to bottom out, too limited to contend. Once again, they’re floating in the Eastern Conference middle tier. This summer, both Anunoby and Siakam were involved in trade rumors. Crickex Affiliate experts believe it’s only a matter of time before the Raptors are forced to dismantle their elite forward group. Whether that shift happens this season remains to be seen, but the franchise’s identity is clearly at a crossroads.