After going 64-18 in the regular season and 16-3 in the playoffs to claim their 18th title this June, the Celtics already look like the team to beat next season. In a new reader mailbag, Brian Robb of Masslive.com speculates as to which players could potentially improve even more in 2024/25.
Robb believes that reserve big man Xavier Tillman, who’s dealt with knee troubles in the last two seasons, still has room to grow at age 25. Robb also believes that Finals MVP swingman Jaylen Brown could improve in his scoring efficiency.
Additionally, Rob touches on Tatum’s inconsistent postseason scoring, the team’s contracts, and what in-game elements the club can improve.
There’s more out of the Atlantic Division:
- Knicks All-NBA point guard Jalen Brunson inked a reported four-year, $156.5MM contract extension with New York this summer — far less than the five-year, $269MM contract he could have signed as an unrestricted free agent last year. Bobby Marks and Tim Bontemps of ESPN reflect on how the superstar guard’s below-market deal could impact the future of All-Star power forward Julius Randle, who himself has just become extension-eligible, and the rest of the roster.
- Nets owner Joe Tsai has “absolute confidence” that team president Sean Marks can rebuild the club’s roster, a source informs Brian Lewis of The New York Post.
- In case you missed it, new Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez believes his experience coaching the Canadian national team helped him book the Brooklyn gig.