When Oct. 22 arrives, who will the Boston Celtics trot out for tip-off in their regular-season opener vs. the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden?
Who the 18-time NBA champions will start this season is among the most popular topics of discussion surrounding Boston's upcoming campaign.
The latest rumblings are that Payton Pritchard will start in the backcourt alongside Derrick White. That's the move this author believes makes the most sense.
The NBA's reigning Sixth Man of the Year is ready to join the first unit. He's a testament to the Celtics' player development program. Pritchard's also a better defender than his competition for this role, Anfernee Simons.
And while Simons is on a more lucrative contract, it's far from a guarantee that he is with his new team beyond the trade deadline. Even if he is, the 26-year-old guard is on an expiring deal. Finishing this season in Boston doesn't mean start slotting him into the Celtics' 2026-27 rotation.
Furthermore, Simons perfectly fits the description of a sixth man who can bring instant offense. He's a dynamic shooting threat who's effective off the dribble and off the catch.
He can help Boston continue to push the pace and find success from behind the arc while rotating in for White and Pritchard.
Who else will start for the Celtics?
There's no mystery about whether White and Jaylen Brown will be in the starting lineup. Neemias Queta is the most likely answer to who starts at center.
The latter's primary competition for that role is Luka Garza. At Summer League, the four-year veteran told this author that the opportunity to earn more meaningful playing time is why he signed with Boston. Garza aims to follow the blueprint he gained from seeing several of his teammates capitalize on their chance to change their career trajectory.
While he could earn the starting center job, this author predicts that Queta will claim that role entering the upcoming campaign.
With White and Pritchard in the backcourt and Brown and Queta occupying two of the three front-court spots, that leaves one opening. The question is whether the Celtics want to open games with two big men on the floor.
That could change depending on the matchup. When Joe Mazzulla and the coaching staff are comfortable with going smaller, Sam Hauser will probably start.
Maybe the benefits of having the six-foot-eight sharpshooter out there make him a first-unit fixture. However, if the coaching staff wants to go double-big to start, Chris Boucher will likely be out there at tip-off.
When the eight-year veteran signed with Boston, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that the expectation is for him to have a significant role with the Celtics.
While the starting lineup might change due to the opposing personnel, the prediction here is a first unit featuring White, Pritchard, Brown, Hauser, and Queta.