Celtics' starting lineup questions don't need just one answer

It isn't necessarily the worst problem an NBA team could have to come into a new season with some uncertainty around the starting lineup.

Sure, most teams would ideally prefer to know which five players will be tipping off for them on a nightly basis. And outfits like the Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks are so menacing coming into the 2026-27 campaign precisely because they know exactly who will be on the parquet every single night when everybody's healthy.

But an embarrassment of riches isn't a bad spot to be in, either, and that seems to be where Joe Mazzulla and the Boston Celtics find themselves with a new season just a week away. High-profile additions and subtractions have left the starting five as an outstanding question for the team in Kelly green, and time is running out to find an answer.

But the truth is that the lineup question may not have just one answer for Boston this year, and with a head coach who has already demonstrated his willingness to experiment with rotation even in the biggest of moments, flexibility could be the Celtics' greatest strength this season.

Boston has a wealth of starting options

Of course, the Celtics do have no-doubt starters on their roster. Jayson Tatum has never once come off the bench in his NBA career, starting each of the 601 games he has appeared in. Similarly, Derrick White has been a core component of Mazzulla's starting five for his entire tenure as head coach. Paul George carries the injury caveat wherever he goes, but he should undoubtedly be considered a preferred name when fit.

Things get fuzzy from there. Neemias Queta took an impressive leap at center last season, but free-agent signing Mitchell Robinson fits exquisitely into Mazzulla's possession-maximizing scheme. Payton Pritchard, a one-time Sixth Man of the Year, shined bright as a starter for stretches last season but reverted to a second-unit leader once Tatum returned from his Achilles injury.

Meanwhile, Sam Hauser brings size and shooting on the wing, and budding names like Baylor Scheierman and Hugo Gonzalez should continue to make their cases that they deserve more run as well. Even Ron Harper Jr., somewhat controversially, featured in the starting lineup of Boston's crucial Game 7 against Philadelphia back in May.

All of these pieces come together to form an unclear picture of which five names categorically belong at the top of the list, with different outlets projecting varying configurations as the start of the season nears.