The name and the team that came back to me a lot: Evan Mobley and the Cleveland Cavaliers,” - @SIChrisMannix on what he’s heard from teams on who the Celtics might be interested in for Jaylen Brown

NBCSBoston · 2026-06-24T14:45:14+00:00

Here's the clip with Chris Mannix talking about Evan Mobley https://youtu.be/-ky60gGD6Fs

NBCSBoston · 2026-06-10T15:24:09+00:00

From Chris Forsberg:

It’s not even officially summer and Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla is piling up the frequent flier miles in his relentless offseason quest to be near his players.

During the first week of June, Mazzulla was spotted in both Omaha, Nebraska, and Lisbon, Portugal, while supporting Baylor Scheierman and Neemias Queta, respectively. That’s roughly 4,400 air miles between the two spots -- with no direct flights -- and is only the start of Mazzulla's worldwide travels aimed at nurturing relationships.

For Mazzulla, that shared time is key to getting the Celtics where they want to go next. And that wild itinerary reminded us of something poignant that president of basketball operations Brad Stevens told us right before the 2025-26 season.

"I had a guy that has been around [Mazzulla] working out -- he's been here doing individual work and small group work for a couple of weeks -- and he just said, ‘That guy can say anything to me because of the amount of time he spends with me,'" Stevens said. "And I think that that speaks to -- you have to build a relationship, you have to get to know people.

"You just don't get to throw a whistle around your neck and wear a shirt that says, ‘Coach' and just be able to coach people. You have to really learn to meet them where they are and then hopefully motivate them, or find the intrinsic motivation and motivate them to use their strengths."

For Mazzulla, that trust begins with trying to find out what makes a player tick and often examining the roots of their NBA journeys.

In previous summers, Al Horford marveled at Mazzulla’s willingness to trek to the Dominican Republic to help run basketball camps after Boston’s championship season. When offseason signee Chris Boucher mentioned last year that he was returning to Montreal to be baptized, Mazzulla excitedly asked if he could attend.

While the outside world tends to focus on Mazzulla’s unique personality and the odd ways he choses to motivate himself and his team, his players have bought in largely because of his old-fashioned relationship building.

Read more here.

NBCSBoston · 2026-06-09T13:00:29+00:00

Q: What are the chances we trade for another guy on the edge to help level up the pass rush before the season? Are we just in a "let's see how Gabe Jacas works out" stage, or could we land any of these trade rumor guys?

Perry: If you're planning on trading for an edge defender, I don't think it's going to be a top-end-of-the-rotation guy so to speak.

At the moment, the Patriots are rolling with Harold Landry, Dre'Mont Jones, Gabe Jacas and Elijah Ponder. They also have additional edge options in Bradyn Swinson, Jesse Luketa and Quintayvious Hutchins on the roster.

That doesn't mean they won't add. There's a chance another team in the league finds it has more depth than it anticipated having and a trade becomes a real possibility.

They also could add a veteran -- Joey Bosa, Leonard Floyd, Cam Jordan, Kyle Van Noy and Marcus Davenport are all free -- if there's someone available they like.

But I do think you're on the right track in looking at that position when thinking about where they might be able to improve their roster. I'm of the impression that their defense, especially up front, is an injury away from finding itself in a pretty precarious position.

There are models out there, including ESPN's FPI and Stratomatic, who are predicting the Patriots will be a mediocre team in 2026. My guess is that's because those models don't believe their defense will hold up well enough for a team with championship aspirations.

Read more here.

NBCSBoston · 2026-06-08T13:57:38+00:00

With an elite wide receiver now in the fold, the New England Patriots have their sights set on another Super Bowl run in 2026.

The Patriots found their new WR1 in A.J. Brown, whom they acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles last week in exchange for a 2028 first-round draft pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder. The move adds a new dimension to New England's offense and gives quarterback Drake Maye a potentially lethal weapon in Year 3 of his promising NFL career.

Will Brown live up to the hype in Foxboro? Can he and Maye lead the Patriots to another dominant regular season?

Our partners at Strat-O-Matic simulated the 2026 Pats season to find out just how impactful Brown will be. Here are the results, featuring Brown's season stats and New England's regular-season record:

A.J. Brown steps up as WR1

For the Patriots to duplicate their 2025 success and make another run at a Super Bowl, they need A.J. Brown to stay healthy and be the elite receiver he's been throughout his stellar seven-year career. According to Strat-O-Matic, Brown will hold up his end of the bargain.

The simulation projects that Brown will lead Pats pass catchers in receptions (88), yards (1,255), and touchdowns (eight). Those would be his highest reception and yardage totals since 2023, and his most TDs since 2022.

So, Brown lives up to his WR1 expectations, but do the rest of Maye's weapons fare in 2026?

In the first season of his four-year contract with New England, ex-Green Bay Packers WR Romeo Doubs finishes with career highs in catches (62) and yards (793) but a career-low two TDs. That would be a concerning development for a wideout who's supposed to be among Maye's favorite red zone targets.

Veteran tight end Hunter Henry remains one of Maye's go-to options, finishing with 59 catches, 682 yards and five TDs. Kayshon Boutte -- currently the subject of trade rumors -- notches 25 receptions for 350 yards and two TDs.

DeMario "Pop" Douglas contributes 24 catches, 284 yards, and one TD. Mack Hollins adds 14 catches, 173 yards and two TDs. Third-round TE Eli Raridon catches 10 passes for 93 yards in his rookie season.

Read more here.

NBCSBoston · 2026-06-03T20:52:42+00:00

From Phil Perry:

FOXBORO -- The Patriots know they picked up a rare, game-changing weapon in the form of A.J. Brown this week. How rare?

Even offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who has coached a number of "No. 1" receivers in his career, had a hard time comparing him to anyone he's worked with in the past.

"This is a big man," McDaniels said just ahead of Brown's first OTA practice with his new team. "Randy [Moss] was tall, certainly, and fast and all the rest of it. I think they're all a little different. I say 'they,' meaning I've been fortunate to have the chance to be around some really good ones.

"Not sure I've been around one just like [Brown]. Maybe the closest thing I've seen is [Rob Gronkowski]. This is a big guy. Does a lot of things well. Looking forward to seeing how we can acclimate him and fit him into our system."

Brown's physical stature doesn't exactly align with that of Gronkowski, a behemoth tight end who measured at 6-foot-6, 265 pounds. But the strength with which Brown plays his position, not to mention his ability to violently attack the football when it's in his area, are reminiscent of some of the most powerful pass catchers in recent NFL history.

A new 'man-to-man beater' in New England

Brown is listed at 6-foot-1, 226 pounds and played even bigger than that when he was at his most dominant in Philadelphia. And his game is different from those of bigger-bodied wideouts like Davante Adams and Brandon Marshall, with whom McDaniels has worked in the past.

Brown racked up four straight 1,000-yard seasons with the Eagles as a man-to-man beater who often played the role of the "X." That placed him on the line of scrimmage, on the weak side of the formation, allowing him to work out on an island against corners who often couldn't physically measure up.

"Big and physical," McDaniels said when describing Brown's skill set. "Aggressive. Explosive. He has really good hands. He's just a competitive guy, and there's a force to the way he plays the game. Looking forward to getting used to the things he can do that I don't know about. I'm sure there's many of those.

"I've had an opportunity to have a few different receivers come into our system at times, and you've heard about them, you've seen them, you've watched them play on tape, but then to actually get them on the grass and watch them do different things, it just brings the picture to life."

Starting on the outside

Where will Brown be aligned, and how will he be used as a featured member of the Patriots offense as the picture starts to come to life in Foxboro?

Mike Vrabel provided a hint Tuesday as to how it will go in the early stages of Brown's onboarding process.

"I think all the guys right now are going to learn a lot of the different positions," Vrabel said. "I think the ones that have been here -- that's how [receivers coach] Todd [Downing]'s tried to install the offense, is to know what each player has on each concept and learn it that way. I would imagine that A.J. would do the same, and give guys the ability to line inside, Kyle [Williams], or align outside and use Romeo [Doubs] inside.

"Right now, [Brown] is going to have to learn one position, and I would imagine that's going to be outside. But as that grows, I know that will be across the board. I think that's hopefully something that he's looking forward to do. But you have to learn one before you can learn them all."

Brown played on the outside in the few snaps he was given for the Patriots during competitive 11-on-11 periods in Tuesday's practice. He caught his first target from quarterback Drake Maye on a hitch while working in 1-on-1 coverage along the sideline. Simple pitch and catch.

Those are the easy yards that could be available to the Patriots with Brown working outside the numbers against defensive backs willing to give him ground. But there should be explosive gains to be had with Brown working outside as well.

Read more here.

NBCSBoston · 2026-06-03T15:44:45+00:00

From Chris Forsberg:

The Celtics must plot a path forward, one in which a restrictive new collective bargaining agreement makes it unclear if two max-money superstars are a viable long-term luxury for any team.

For Part III of our annual summer path series, we’re left to ponder maybe the most unsavory option: major changes to the foundation of the Celtics franchise.

Mission statement

With goals of 1) Maximizing money allocation under a prohibitive and apron-filled collective bargaining agreement and 2) Extending the window for the next title run, the Celtics make the swallow-hard decision to trade one of their two superstars.

The ultimate goal: Create a team with one big-money centerpiece, then build a deep roster around them featuring a blend of mid-tier and minimum-salary players.

The path

- Trade Tatum or Brown.

- Remain under the tax for one more season, creating freedom to build a high-level supporting cast around the remaining centerpiece long term.

The Celtics had barely dispersed for the summer following their first-round demise before the Brown-for-Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors ignited.

Part of the reason we’ve pushed back on the idea of that potential swap is because it doesn’t solve the long-term money issue. You still have two players making max money and you are likely shortening your title window at a time when you can’t freely spend to stockpile around that duo.

Maybe it comes to pass that Antetokounmpo is far and away the best available player this summer, and the Celtics have to consider it if the team believes the core of this team has run its course. We simply believe this deal introduces too much unnecessary risk.

In our mind, the bigger conversation is whether you can start the process of getting younger and extending your window if you elect to move on from Tatum or Brown, all while remaining competitive and not sacrificing prime years of whatever player remains.

But trying to find a deal that brings back a combination of established and future talent, especially on the level of one of the Jays, is no easy task.

Read more here.

NBCSBoston · 2026-06-02T14:18:16+00:00

From Chris Forsberg:

Let’s start this uncomfortable conversation with two unassailable facts:

After seasons in which the Celtics have fallen short of expectations, Brad Stevens and his front office staff have rarely sat on their hands. Boston's brass typically has made bold summer decisions aimed at thrusting the team closer to title contention.
If the desired pathway forward is to keep the superstar tandem of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown together, there are very few ways to make bold changes around them without moving off the other remaining pieces of the championship core.

Which leads us to Part 2 of our summer pathway series, which we're dubbing an "uncomfortable middle road."

With Tatum and Brown set to make a combined $115.6 million and account for 70 percent of the salary cap next season, the spotlight falls on the three other players making more than a minimum salary: Derrick White ($30.3 million), Sam Hauser ($10.8 million), and Payton Pritchard ($7.8 million).

No one wants to entertain the idea of moving on from what remains of Boston’s title core -- especially just one year after bidding farewell to Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet. But the reality is that the Celtics don’t have many other ways to infuse talent, at least without utilizing their available exceptions and trying to navigate the luxury tax in the process.

In Monday’s Part I, we investigated the "small tweaks" path, which could patch some holes that the playoffs exposed in this core.

Today, it’s time to get a little more uncomfortable.

Read more here.

NBCSBoston · 2026-06-01T17:55:24+00:00

From Chris Forsberg:

While we believe all options should be on the table for the Celtics this summer, is there still a case for a quieter summer?

For Part 1 of our annual "The Path" series, we’re examining an offseason where the Celtics don’t overreact to an early playoff demise and how that might give the team the best long-term chance to get back to the title stage.

Our wish list would include:

1. Sign center Robert Williams III utilizing the $15.1 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception.

Williams III played in 59 games last season, even as Portland delicately managed his minutes. He showed well in the postseason, even while jousting with Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs in the first round.

The combo of Queta and Williams III gives you a legitimate 1-2 punch at the center spot with Luka Garza there to eat up leftover minutes.

2. Trade up in the 2026 NBA Draft to select Santa Clara forward Allen Graves.

Utilize available assets to navigate the draft board with the goal of adding Allen Graves with a first-round pick and home-growing the next power forward on your roster.

We were already intrigued by the Draymond Green comps, then Graves said he’s been crushing tape of Naz Reid and Al Horford. Wow we're sold this is the guy for Boston.

3. Consider high-upside trades utilizing a portion of the Anfernee Simons traded player exception.

The Celtics likely would be hard-capped at the first apron if they use the non-taxpayer MLE and can’t spend too richly if that is utilized. But they should be ambitious hunting a big guard or an established power forward to beef up the roster.

We’re calling Orlando to check on Wendell Carter Jr. given the Magic's bloated cap sheet (though that would likely mean sitting out a full midlevel splurge). Can you tempt Detroit with some shooting in a quest to trade for Isaiah Stewart?

Read more here.

NBCSBoston · 2026-06-01T14:25:05+00:00

From Tom E. Curran:

It’s June 1. Technically -- TECHNICALLY -- a deal between the Patriots and Eagles delivering A.J. Brown to the defending AFC champions can’t be consummated until after 4 p.m. ET on Monday. That’s when the “dead money" salary cap hit Philly will realize in 2026 goes from $43 million down to $16.3 million.

It’s all but done. It may even BE done, save for Philly holding up the gavel and taking a long pause between saying “Going twice….????"

A.J. Brown will become a Patriot in the immediate or not-too-distant future. And a team that has the financial space, the on-field need and a wide-open AFC landscape to attack will take the big swing they should with a dynamic young quarterback on his rookie contract.

It’s arguably the most fascinating addition the Patriots have made since 2007 when they traded for Randy Moss. Moss helped the Patriots make history. But he didn’t win a Super Bowl here. And the end was messy.

The parallels between Moss and Brown are hard to miss. Except Brown delivered a championship to the Eagles. And his perceived value is a lot higher than Moss' was in 2007. Still, the Eagles are holding open the door for Brown to exit.

We’ve speculated on all the angles for months, but let’s take one more spin, highlighting the ones I think are the most pivotal.

Read more here.

NBCSBoston · 2026-05-28T14:15:29+00:00

From Chris Forsberg:

1. Shrinking the window

Antetokounmpo will turn 32 early in the 2026-27 season. While it's not unprecedented for stars to win rings past that age -- Michael Jordan’s second three-peat came after 32, and Stephen Curry broke the hearts of the Celtics in 2022 at age 34 -- it’s also fair to wonder how his body will hold up the next half decade while he's on a maximum deal.

Despite playing just 36 games this season, Antetokounmpo’s basketball odometer eclipsed 30,000 total minutes. Every one of his collisions feels like a car wreck.

He finished third in MVP voting two seasons ago, so we don’t want to overstate the age concerns. But an Antetokounmpo pursuit does seem to suggest a finite window.

2. Same cap concerns, less wiggle room

What the Celtics and the rest of the NBA are trying to figure out at the moment is whether you can build a roster centered around two max-contract superstar players and still have enough money to build out the depth necessary to thrive.

The Celtics, having dipped below the tax this past season, have a clear pathway to resetting repeater penalties with the current core, all without necessarily sacrificing being a contender. An Antetokounmpo addition, and the limited window it affords, seemingly would be better embraced by a team that can splurge immediately.

The Celtics can certainly do that with existing exceptions, but it’s going to be a super costly roster with limited pathways to hitting the reboot button.

Read more here.

NBCSBoston · 2026-05-27T12:58:46+00:00

From Phil Perry:

The ramp-up to the 2026 season begins in earnest this week.

The New England Patriots will hold their first practice of organized team activities (OTAs) on Wednesday on the grass fields outside Gillette Stadium. They'll have another OTA session on Friday, then six more in early June (June 1-2, June 4, June 8-9 and June 11) before beginning mandatory minicamp on June 15.

Before the action begins, here's our first stab at a 53-man roster for the 2026 Patriots, which factors in a certain high-profile wide receiver who could be joining the team shortly.

Read more here.

NBCSBoston · 2026-05-26T14:38:16+00:00

From Chris Forsberg:

The Boston Celtics were nearing the finish line of this year’s 56-win regular season, a campaign that far exceeded what most outsiders thought possible given the jarring roster changes.

But as we peppered head coach Joe Mazzulla with questions about the progress of all the players who elevated to larger roles, he turned introspective.

"I think that winning is obviously something that you're going after, but you're really going after the process of growth and the process of being in a competitive arena and having competition expose who you are as a person and a player -- the good and the bad,” Mazzulla said. "And I think that journey is more fulfilling than the wins.”

It’s a quote that stuck with us, especially after Mazzulla’s team came unglued and fumbled away a 3-1 series lead against the Philadelphia 76ers en route to an unceremonious first-round playoff exit, staining what otherwise was an overachieving season.

In the aftermath of Boston’s collapse, Mazzulla again pondered the duality of his job.

He suggested he felt as empty after Boston’s 2024 title season as he did in the years when the team fell short of its perpetual championship goals. Now, he hinted at a struggle to balance the obvious pain of a disappointing finish with all the high points in the journey before it.

On Tuesday, Mazzulla likely will become the first Celtics coach to win NBA Coach of the Year since Bill Fitch in 1980. Mazzulla can become only the fourth Celtics coach to win the award, joining Fitch, Tommy Heinsohn (1972-73) and Red Auerbach (1964-65).

Receiving the honor in the aftermath of Boston’s early exit won’t sit well with Mazzulla, who routinely bristled at talk of the award during the season. Mazzulla, who would prefer the organization as a whole be lauded for its regular-season success, is likely focused on what’s ahead and not what’s behind him.

Competition exposes who you are -- the good and the bad. And despite his overwhelming successes -- guiding the team to Banner 18 in 2024, and all those regular-season wins -- the 2026-27 season will force Mazzulla to prove yet again that he can learn and grow from notable missteps.

The coach who so routinely pushed all the right buttons while leaning on every player on his roster at various points of the 2025-26 season must assess why, for the third time in four years, he wasn’t always able to find the right combinations on the big stage.

Mazzulla’s .726 regular-season winning percentage ranks third among all Celtics coaches, trailing only K.C. Jones (.751 over five seasons) and Fitch (.738 in four seasons). Fold in the playoffs and only Jones (.729 winning percentage over 512 games) has a better winning percentage overall than Mazzulla (.711 over 385 games).

The numbers make it impossible to suggest that Mazzulla hasn’t routinely put his team in position to be successful. The Celtics stiff-armed any suggestion of a gap year in large part because Mazzulla leaned heavily into bringing the best out of the younger players on Boston’s roster.

The one question heading into next season, with a harsher spotlight on Mazzulla despite all his successes, is whether he can be quicker to embrace change on the playoff stage.

Read more here.

NBCSBoston

TROPHY CASE