5 Moves Celtics should make after trading for Jrue Holiday
By Tyler Watts
3. Solidify the bench
The Celtics return just four pieces of their 2023 playoff rotation. Jrue Holiday will replace Marcus Smart and Kristaps Porzingis will play 32-plus minutes when the games matter most. Assuming health, Boston has at least 42 minutes per game to fill. Head coach Joe Mazzulla will experiment with multiple lineups this season, but the front office needs to solidify the bench.
Boston should have plenty of scoring and defense in the first unit, but they will lack changes of pace. They have six trusted playoff rotation players right now. If Payton Pritchard steps up, he could become the seventh. Mazzulla will have to play at least eight and would ideally have nine readily available options.
Al Horford cannot be the team’s sixth man. They will stagger their top four to keep plenty of offense on the floor, but the Celtics still need someone capable of heating up off the bench.
The Boston Celtics sacrificed depth in the Jrue Holiday trade and must re-acquire it. There will be several bucket-getters willing to come off the bench and defense-first options available at the trade deadline. Brad Stevens and company would be wise to round out their bench if they plan on winning it all in 2024.