Can Hugo González Be the Celtics' Stephon Castle, Non-Giannis Big Swings, & Much More

As the NBA falls into the more predictable pattern of one game at 8 pm or 8:30 pm each night, and only on two different networks, it leaves more brain space to think about other things. And obviously, one of the things I'm thinking about is the next Celtics season. Right off the bat, we have to acknowledge that one of the prices to an unexpected first-round exit is that we will need to endure a lot of crazy rumors this offseason. We will be expected to psychoanalyze Jaylen Brown's words, posts, and deeds this offseason. Does he want to be here? Does he want his "own" team? Sigh. So it's going to be a long offseason in that respect, and I'm trying to be patient. But first, we need to talk about my biggest focus for the 2026-2027 Celtics season, which concerns a certain Spanish import.

Can Hugo González Be the Celtics' Version of Stephon Castle?

It's so very clear that the Celtics need an agent of controlled chaos. They need their Stephon Castle or Josh Hart. Their own Amen Thompson or Dyson Daniels. And they may just have such a player on the roster. His name is Hugo González.

Hugo is, on paper, just like these guys. He's fast, he's twitchy, he's active. He moves and reads the game in ways you can't teach. You look up and you wonder how he was there, crashing the glass or in the driving and/or passing lane for an easy lay-up and/or steal. He is also basically their exact build. Castle is listed as 6'6" and 215 lbs. Hart is listed as 6'5" and 215 lbs. Daniels is listed as 6'7" and 199 lbs. Thompson is listed as 6'7" and 200 lbs. Hugo is listed as 6'6" and 200 lbs. And given that he played the majority of the season as a 19-year-old, it's reasonable to believe that he can add 10-15 lbs. of muscle to his frame.

On paper is obviously different than doing it on the floor, but we saw more than glimpses of Hugo's potential this season, he has the stats to back up the potential. If you're a sicko like me that spends his week listening to NBA podcasts, one website you will hear referenced a lot is Cleaning the Glass, specifically their Lineup stats. I don't go there much because a lot of the website is paywalled, and I'm not quite irresponsible enough to spend money on stats I would barely use, but you can see their basic lineup data for free. On this table, they list all five-player units that played at least 100 possessions together. For the 2025-2026 season, there were 245 such lineups, eight of which were Celtics lineups:

Just in case you were wondering if Tatum still has a dramatic impact, you can see it right there – he took a top 30 lineup right to the top of the heap. No shade to Sam Hauser, but he's not Jayson Tatum.

Back to the point. Essentially, Hugo was part of a top-50 lineup until the very end of the regular season, when Tatum got enough reps to sneak his lineup into qualifying. Looking through the data, there were only a few other rookies who were part of a top-50 lineup: Kon Knueppel (2x), VJ Edgecombe (2x), Kobe Sanders, Sion James, and Cedric Coward (Dylan Harper's first appearance was at 75th, Cooper Flagg's was at 127th).

So, we know Hugo can be a part of a winning lineup. I want to pair that with another observation: Derrick White and Payton Pritchard played way too much in 2025-2026. In the regular season, only 20 players reached the 2,500 minutes played threshold, they were two of them. That's not the optimal way to draw up the season, I don't think. I'm not faulting the strategy – playing them heavy minutes gave the team their best chance to win. But if you're trying to win a championship, it's not how you want to play. Both players were worn out by the time the playoffs started. From the start of the season through March, D White averaged 1.4 blocks per game. And then he blocked only one shot in the final six games he played in April. Pritchard's three-point shooting fell off a cliff in the playoffs. He shot .422 from deep in the second half of the season, including .475 in his six April games, and then he shot .309 in the playoffs. Did Philly's defense have something to do with it? Maybe. But he missed a lot of wide open shots. And we know that Payton Pritchard is clutch, so that's not it. He would never use tired legs as an excuse, but I'll use it for him.

The solution? Start Hugo. Pritchard should go back to being a sixth man, and Hugo should start alongside the Jay's, White, and Neemias Queta. Pritchard can be part of the closing lineup if he's cooking, but Hugo is the dynamic variable the team needs to be more unpredictable. He needs to play 25-27 minutes per game next season (he was at 14.6 in the regular season, and 4.8 in the playoffs). He needs to play enough that his lack of play in the playoffs this season will seem crazy in retrospect, because that's what it felt like as it was happening.

One of the biggest reasons the Celtics won the 2024 NBA championship was because they timed key acquisitions with internal development from their own players. Yes, Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis were important to the title, but they don't win it without Pritchard, Hauser, and yes, the Jay's, just getting better. The team surprised this season because Queta, Baylor Scheierman, and Jordan Walsh grew in ways most pundits didn't see (I saw Queta's improvement coming, but most people aren't me). The C's need to give Hugo González the same runway to exhibit growth next season.

Non-Giannis Big Swings

I think I've been pretty clear about my feelings on Giannis Antetokounmpo. I think he's a losing player that only has an NBA title because the one and only time he got there, he had the luxury of playing the biggest choker in NBA history (Chris Paul), and he had one of the biggest clutch players in NBA history on his team (Jrue Holiday). The very next season, this happened:

Fun fact: I watch this like once every couple of weeks, I keep it open in the browser on my phone. It always cheers me up. Second fun fact: this was Game 4 of the 2022 second round. Since this game, Giannis has only won two playoff games, and one of them (the very next game) was only because Jrue Holiday stole Marcus Smart's lunch money. Twice. So, I don't want Giannis. He's a loser, he's a diva, he's broken, and he's a ball hog. He's basically the antithesis of Celtics Basketball.

But I will acknowledge that the Celtics need to at least engage in the thought exercise of making big changes to the roster. And I got your big change right here:

Some, including Bill Simmons, floated the idea of Jaylen Brown for Jamal Murray. And with approximately zero respect due to Jamal Murray, but why the hell would the C's do that? If they're taking a swing, then take a swing. Now, this trade would only happen if a few things locked into place. One, this should only happen if JB asks for a trade. I don't want to trade JB. I think I've made that clear. But if he asks, OK. If he does, then the second thing is that in order to actually make this trade happen, you can just attach every single piece of draft capital that the C's have to this deal.

Three, it only happens if Nikola Jokić looks around and wonders why the fuck he's still in Denver. We can say with confidence that the Nuggets aren't going to pay the luxury tax because they never do. So there's a real good chance that they lose Peyton Watson, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Bruce Brown this offseason. And they already lost in the first round with those guys on the roster. They're definitely going to be paying $28+M combined to Christian Braun (who regressed the second he got paid) and Zeke Nnaji (who was never good at all). The Nuggets ceiling may now be the No. 6 seed. Maybe that's enough for Jokić. But maybe he'd rather play with Jayson Tatum and Derrick White for a team that is going to do what it takes to win. Stranger things have happened.

OK, here's another:

Did you know that Amen Thompson is a free agent after next season? If you're Amen Thompson, and you just altered your game to fit your team's needs, and set career-best marks in points and assists per game, as well as free throw percentage, and got absolutely no credit for it from awards voters, and got bounced again in the first round, I might be just be agitating for a new deal this summer. Will the Rockets are going to be amenable to that? Let's face it, the vibes are not immaculate in Houston, and in Kevin Durant and Alperen Şengün, they already have two players making $35M+ next season. Do they want to have a third, when the ceiling of their team appears to be "embarrassed by old guys in the first round" like it has been the past two seasons at the hands of Stephen Curry and LeBron James? Especially when their owner just committed a whole bunch of money to reincarnate the Houston Comets? Maybe! But I don't think it's a sure thing. I especially would think Houston would be tempted to bite at an offer that included the C's absorbing Dorian Finney-Smith's shortsighted contract with their $27.7M trade exception (that trade also works), but obviously it'd be better for the C's if they just did Hauser and picks straight up.

Trading for Jokić is probably wishcasting, but I don't think this is. The Rockets aren't as smart as they think they are, and they absolutely need to make big changes this offseason. And Thompson is the one contract that isn't nailed down for future years. Houston played hardball on their extensions for Şengün and Jabari Smith Jr., but they had leverage to do so then. Do they have leverage over Thompson? I can't possibly fathom how that could be true after the sacrifices he made to become a responsible ballhandler when that was never supposed to be his role.

A third big swing I mentioned in my last piece that is more akin to the Jokić idea would be trying to swing a deal for Anthony Edwards. Here's another one that you'd have to really think about:

Talk about a shakeup! Now, let me acknowledge that the Celtics and Heat are unlikely to do a trade together because Pat Riley hates the Celtics. But Danny Ainge isn't here anymore, nor is his son. And can anyone really hate Brad Stevens? He's just so nice! I'm not sure who gets the best of this deal. I'm not sure I would want to do it. I love Derrick White! He's the guy who did this:

There are 450 players in the NBA at any given moment. Four hundred and forty nine of them stand in the corner after making that inbounds pass and not getting the ball right back. The 450th player is Derrick Motherfucking White. It would sting losing him. But it's hard to not look at how he shot this season and wonder about having a better shooter in that role. And you know Brad Stevens remembers how good of a shooter Tyler Herro is:

I don't think any of these trades are likely. I'd put the Thompson one in the realm of closest to being most likely, and I wouldn't exactly call it likely. But then again, I wouldn't call the Celtics trading JB likely, and we're talking about that.

If JB Stays, Who Goes?

Obviously, I just said I don't want to trade Derrick White, but it's kind of not going away as an issue. People got mad at me when I wrote about it at this time last year. The C's managed to get under the luxury tax without trading him, but his fit on the team long-term is still not ironclad, as much as I would like it to be. I think the team should give it one more shot with D White, but I'm probably more stubborn than Brad Stevens.

The player who definitely needs to go though is Sam Hauser. Speaking of stubborn, it took me a long time to come around to this. I wrote in December about how Hauser is one of the best shooters ever, and I still believe that. But one thing that doesn't get much play is just how bad of a back Hauser has. He has missed time here and there due to his back, and he's always wearing the heating pad when he's on the bench. Whether it remains an issue or not, he was a step slow all playoffs. In the 2024 playoffs, his defense was a key factor in the run to the championship. This season, his defense was still key, but in the wrong direction. The Sixers wings and guards were all a step faster. He had some moments against the forwards, but Maxey and Edgecombe were so much faster that the team sometimes had to have Queta come up and try to trap, and that had disastrous results, because Maxey was able to get around both and get a free path to the rim.

Baylor Scheierman's 3.2 three pointers attempted per game pales in comparison to Hauser's 6.5 three pointers attempted per game, so we can't truly say that Scheierman is as bankable a shooter as Hauser. But when you think about howSam is already a step slower on defense, and may not get that step back (he's 29 next season, he's no longer a youth), the Belichickian move is to trade him now. Trading him will also make it easier to put Hugo in the starting lineup. It'd be a big leap to elevate Hugo over both Hauser and Pritchard.

This is how I have the minutes per game drawn up. In both scenarios, the C's have bid adieu to both Sam Hauser and Nikola Vučević (spoiler alert: I don't want Vooch back):

In the first scenario, I have the C's only acquiring a center/big in the offseason. I really do think that is all that is necessary, because I am confident that González, Scheierman, and Ron Harper Jr. can grow into more significant roles, and that Tatum will be back to himself by the start of the season. But I also understand that the team's offense functioned really well with Anfernee Simons as an additional ball handler, so the second table accounts for such an acquisition.

OK, So What Are Some Reasonable Acquisitions?

What's reasonable is using Sam Hauser, the $27.M trade exception, and/or the full Mid-Level Exception (which they will have assuming they don't re-sign Vooch) to acquire a power forward/center who can play 18-22 minutes per game in an important reserve role behind Neemias Queta and Jayson Tatum. The top name on my list is Isaiah Stewart. The Pistons buried Stewart under the bench in the playoffs this season, and it got worse as the playoffs progressed.

In the 2024-2025 regular season when the Pistons first got good, Stewart played 19.9 minutes per game, and a near-identical 19.0 in the first-round loss to the Knicks. He then averaged 22.7 minutes in the regular season this season, but when the playoffs started, he got de-emphasized. He only averaged 14.3 minutes per game against the Magic, and then just 9.3 per game against the Cavs. The Pistons became more enamored with Bball Paul Reed, and he was really good. But Stewart was a stalwart for them all season who at one point was getting All-Defense team buzz, and finished his season playing just four minutes in Game 6 and six minutes in Game 7. Can you come back from that, or do you need to trade him? Especially when you need more shooting?

Sam Hauser for Stewart straight up works, and I don't think the C's would need to kick in any draft picks to make it work. If anyone can harness Stewart's aggression, it's Joe Mazzulla, who you know isn't going to be intimidated by him. I think this would be a home run trade for both teams, and I'll actually be a little disappointed if it doesn't happen. But let's run through some other options I find agreeable to upgrade the Vučević spot:

• Unrestricted Free Agents: Mitchell Robinson, Andre Drummond, Robert Williams III, Xavier Tillman Sr., Marvin Bagley Jr., Guerschon Yabusele, Nick Richards
• Free Agents if they decline their Player Option: Sandro Mamukelashvili
• Free Agents if their Team Option is Declined: Day'Ron Sharpe, Isaiah Hartenstein, Dominick Barlow, Micah Potter
• Possible Trade Targets: Santi Aldama, Daniel Gafford, Damontas Sabonis, Rudy Gobert, Zion Williamson
• Restricted Free Agents: Jalen Duren, Walker Kessler

Of the players here – and they're listed in the order in which I like them within each status type – there are four that really excite me: Robinson, Drummond, Sharpe, and Aldama. I think Robinson is probably off the table now. The Knicks are on the doorstep of the Finals, and you don't break up a Finals team when the only obstacle is money. James Dolan has a lot of money. If they let Robinson go, then, yes, in a heartbeat sign him instead of trading for Stewart (or do both), but I just don't see that as a likely scenario.

I also think the Nets have every reason to pick up Sharpe's option, and the Sixers should want Drummond back. But you never know. I was truly impressed by Drummond in the playoffs. He's never struck me as a particularly disciplined player capable of playing team-first basketball before, and even though I still think Nick Nurse is a lunatic, I think a lot of credit should go to him for that development. Drummond would be a hand-in-glove fit, especially now that he can hit corner three's. I also still love Sharpe, and I don't know what the plan is Brooklyn is, but he's an asset on a good contract, so they have no real reason to shed him. But maybe!

I do think Aldama is imminently getable. Memphis is tanking, perhaps indefinitely, but certainly until they can offload Ja Morant. People seem to think that'll be this offseason, but then again, a lot of people thought he'd be dealt at February's trade deadline, and there wasn't a single good rumor about him moving, so who knows. Hauser for Aldama works straight up or using TPE's (Memphis has some to use on their end).

I don't know how to feel about Isaiah Hartenstein, but ultimately I think it's a moot point. On the one hand, he's always struck me as a dirty player, and the stuff he's doing to Victor Wembanyama in the Conference Finals disgusts me. On the other hand, if the Thunder decline his option and the C's can get him for the $15M Mid-Level Exception, and he's willing to come off the bench behind Queta, well then OK. But I don't think either of those things is likely. I think OKC will pick up his option and trade him.

I only listed Jalen Duren and Walker Kessler for the sake of completism. I don't think the C's can even put together functional offers for either. But I could be wrong, and obviously they're both great, assuming Kessler is healthy again.

Beyond them, I love the idea of a Time Lord reunion, but his health will always scare me. Mamukelashvili fits offensively, but not defensively, which makes him redundant and not an upgrade over Luka Garza in my opinion. I'll always have a soft spot for Marvin Bagley Jr., but I understand that no one is going to be impressed by that acquisition. It gets grim fast, in other words, but I think Stewart or Aldama is achievable, and if not, hopefully one of Robinson/Drummond/Sharpe shakes loose.

Other Players Who Intrigue Me

• Unrestricted Free Agents: LeBron James, Coby White, Anfernee Simons, Collin Sexton, Kelly Oubre Jr., Ayo Dosunmu, Quentin Grimes, Keon Ellis, Khris Middleton, Harrison Barnes, Jordan Goodwin
• Restricted Free Agents: Mohamed Diawara
• Free Agents if they decline their Player Option: Marcus Smart
• Free Agents if their Team Option is Declined: Jamal Shead, Julian Champagnie, JD Davison
• Possible Trade Targets: Saddiq Bey, Naji Marshall, Derrick Jones Jr., Trey Murphy III, Jerami Grant, RJ Barrett, Brice Sensabaugh, Andrew Wiggins

Again, I don't really think the C's will end up with any of these players. Penciling in Coby White seems really great until you look at the list of available free agents and realize that there's such a dearth of quality players that White is almost certain to command a salary of $20M+, which will put him out of the Celtics' price range. Getting LeBron would obviously be amazing, but he's only coming here if he wants to accept less money and a lesser role, and I don't see why he would do that. But if he wants to sure, sign him, and then trade two or three of Hauser, Hugo, Scheierman, and Walsh to clear runway for LeBron, and let's go win another ring.

I do think Saddiq Bey, Naji Marshall, or Derrick Jones Jr. would be great bench guys, but again, I would rather just bank on internal development from the team's current crop of wings. But I am definitely intrigued of signing noted Celtics killer Khris Middleton to a minimum deal to be in the Blake Griffin/Udonis Haslem role, teaching everyone (even the Jay's) his bag of offensive wizardry. And I would always welcome Marcus Smart back into the fold, because I love Marcus Smart.

Summary

I don't think the Celtics need to reinvent the wheel, even though I know people will be champing at the bit for them to do so. I think they should:

• Make plans to start Hugo González
• Trade Sam Hauser for Isaiah Stewart or Santi Aldama, or sign Mitchell Robinson in free agency
• Draft well at picks 27 and 40
• Focus on internal development
• Develop other strategies for winning basketball besides "attempt 45+ threes in every game"

The C's are going to stay under the luxury tax again next season, so that they can go nuts again in 2027-2028 without a crippling luxury tax bill. So any championship contention is going to have to come from a healthy helping of internal development. And the team has intriguing players who I am excited to see develop. The C's will be a top-four team next season regardless, but they could make it back to the Conference Finals and beyond if they are able to tweak and adapt better than they did this season.

One thing I am certain of is that as much as I have mapped out a plan, I know and trust that Brad Stevens has mapped out an even better one, because even when it seems like the C's are fucked, he just figures it out.

A Final Note To Remind You That It's Not Just Joe Mazzulla

Joe Mazzulla makes waves sometimes for being unapologetic about the Celtics' approach, and how hewn it is toward analytics. I think we all think the C's need to be a little less dogmatic about that approach, and not be so married to the analytics. But Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson is here to remind us that as much as we want to believe Mazzulla is different and outside the norm, he really isn't. Most teams really do think this way, and you only get the glimpses of how teams think when you have honest, no-bullshit coaches like Mazzulla and Atkinson. Here's what Atkinson said after Game 3 of their Conference Finals series vs. the Knicks:

"I think analytically, I think we've won the – I said three out of three [games in the series], we're two out of three in the expected wins," Atkinson told reporters Sunday. "I don't know if you guys follow that – the expected score. We've won two out of three."

I mean, woof. Even if you really believe that, you should never say it out loud, never mind out loud and on the record to the media. But in doing so, he offered us the reminder that Mazzulla and the C's aren't unique in their (over)reliance on analytics, and it's good to remember that. Thanks, Kenny!