The Boston Celtics just won an NBA championship, but what’s even more impressive is that they will be bringing back the same roster next year. Brad Stevens did a phenomenal job of keeping the squad together now and for the future. Every player at the top of their rotation (outside of Al Horford) is under contract for multiple seasons.
Jayson Tatum just inked an extension this summer, as did Derrick White and Sam Hauser. Meanwhile, Jrue Holiday signed one before the playoffs, Jaylen Brown and Payton Pritchard signed one last summer, Jrue Holiday signed one before the postseason, and Kristaps Porzingis signed one right after the Celtics traded for him.
They have set themselves beautifully for the future, but what will their starting lineup look like in five years? Here’s the best-case scenario for their 2029 Opening Night starting lineup.
Point guard for the Boston Celtics: Derrick White
Age in 2029: 35 years old
This could be one of the final Derrick White seasons in the NBA, but he’s good enough to the point where he should still be balling out at this point. That said, White only has four years left on his current deal, so he would have to ink another contract with Boston for this to come to fruition.
White is the perfect all-around guard to play alongside Boston’s current superstars. He’s an elite three-point shooter, a two-time All-Defensive player, and one of the best shot-blocking guards in the NBA.
While some of his burst may have deteriorated by the time he is 35 years old, it’s not unreasonable to believe he could still be a very effective NBA player at that age.
Combine that with his postseason resume and the potential success he could have at that point with the Celtics, and this is a no-brainer.
Shooting guard for the Boston Celtics: Jaylen Brown
Age in 2029: 32 years old
Speaking of a no-brainer, Jaylen Brown was always going to be a part of this dream starting five. He’s one of the best players in the NBA and fresh off a season where he won Eastern Conference finals MVP and NBA Finals MVP.
At 32 years old, Brown will be entering the back end of his prime years, but that still means he should be an All-Star talent. Perhaps even a perennial All-NBA guy, should he finally get that recognition consistently.
Like Derrick White, Brown’s contract only runs through the 2028-29 season, so the Celtics will have to re-up with him for this date, but that shouldn’t be an issue.
Small forward for the Boston Celtics: Sam Hauser
Age in 2029: 31 years old
This is where things get a bit different. Jaylen Brown and Derrick White are current-day starters, but in this dream world, Sam Hauser would be elevated into a starting role. He’s a perfect fit with the other players projected to be in this lineup.
Hauser is one of the best three-point shooters in the league, and at 31 years old, there’s no reason to believe that he wouldn’t be shooting the rock at that same level. Plus, his defense has continuously improved throughout the years, and he’s become wildly underrated on that end.
The forward signed a very team-friendly extension with the Celtics this summer, but he’s only under team control through the 2028-29 season. That means the two sides would have to get another deal done.
Power forward for the Boston Celtics: Jayson Tatum
Age in 2029: 31 years old
Just as Jaylen Brown is an obvious choice, Jayson Tatum being in the dream starting five is just as obvious. He’s a perennial All-NBA First Team player, and by the time he’s 31 years old, he will be fully in his prime.
Barring a complete and utter disaster, Tatum will be on the team in five years. He’s the centerpiece of the franchise, and they will do everything possible to keep him around.
As things stand right now, Tatum is the only player who has a deal in place that runs through the 2029-30 season. He has a player option for that year.
Center for the Boston Celtics: Xavier Tillman
Age in 2029: 30 years old
People will want to put Kristaps Porzingis in this spot, but even in a dream world, his injuries probably wouldn’t let him play consistently at 34 years old. Even if he’s on a team, expecting him to start the majority of the team’s regular season games is unlikely.
Of the bigs on the current roster, Xavier Tillman seems like the best long-term fit to replace the Al Horford-type of center, which is a great fit with this starting five.
Tillman has already proven to be a very valuable player, as he played crucial minutes against the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals. He’s a stellar multi-positional defender, and if his three-point shot comes around, he could be a quality starting option.
Boston just signed Tillman to a new contract this summer, but it’s only for two years. So, if they want to keep him around, they’ll have to work something out on a more long-term basis.
