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En route to a hopeful second straight championship, the 61-21 Boston Celtics wasted little time in dispatching the offensively-challenged Orlando Magic (41-41) in the first round of this spring's playoffs.
But the Celtics haven't emerged from that first test unscathed.
Six-time All-Defensive Team guard Jrue Holiday missed the final three bouts of the series with a hamstring strain.
More Boston Celtics News: Shams Charania Expects Big Changes For Celtics This Offseason
Six-time All-Star Jayson Tatum sat out Game 2 after hurting his wrist. Four-time All-Stars Jaylen Brown has been plagued by a knee impingement that's been bugging him for several months, although he missed no games.
Next up for Boston will be a likely greater challenge, against the winner of the ongoing matchup between the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons.
More Boston Celtics News: Celtics $6.1 Billion Sale Expected to Be Finalized Despite Major Challenges
One thing is for sure. Tatum has looked more confident as a scorer ball than he did in the past playoffs. The 6-foot-8 former Duke Blue Devil posted what would be career-best playoff averages of 31.3 points on .447/.364/.902 shooting splits, 11.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals a night in the Orlando series. Tatum also chipped in 5.3 dimes and 0.5 blocks through the 4-1 series victory.
During a recent appearance on ESPN, commentator Stephen A. Smith has shredded pundits' critiques of the Boston superstar.
— FOLLOW @Tatums0Burner (@playoffburner) May 1, 2025
"Jayson Tatum deserves so much more love than he [has] received," Smith opined. "This brother's special, there's no doubt about. But Steve Kerr didn't help Jayson Tatum, I'll tell you that much. But that's a different subject for another day."
Kerr, the head coach of the gold medalist U.S. men's basketball team during the 2024 Paris Olympics, frequently limited Tatum's minutes, occasionally sitting him out of entire games.
Still just 27, Tatum guided Boston to two NBA Finals across three seasons (along with Brown and Derrick White), claiming one title. They have an opportunity to make their third NBA Finals berth in the past four seasons this year.
Tatum, one of the league's elite two-way talents, seems likely to be named to his fourth straight All-NBA First Team this spring, and his fifth All-NBA team overall. He's already been named an Eastern Conference Finals MVP for his efforts in the 2022 East Finals. Although he is indisputably the Celtics' best player, his struggles on offense in the 2024 postseason opened the door for Brown to claim East Finals and NBA Finals MVP honors.
His story is very much still being written. But he is well on his way to a Hall of Fame career.
More Boston Celtics News:
Celtics' Jaylen Brown Issues Fiery Response to Magic Fouls
NBA Players Rank Celtics Star Among League's Most Underrated
Former All-Star Claims Celtics Legend Was Tougher to Defend Than Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant
Celtics Star Jayson Tatum Reignites NBA, NFL Drama with Latest Comments
For more news and notes on the Boston Celtics, visit Boston Celtics on SI.
More must-reads:
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- The 'NBA Summer League MVPs' quiz
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LA Lakers have inside track to sign 2x All-Star in new buyout deal, it would complete their roster
Toronto Raptors Release Ex-Lakers, Grizzlies Center
For any NBA team looking for a young center to add some frontcourt help, one just hit the open market. After signing a two-year contract at the end of the 2024-25 season, the Toronto Raptors have waived Colin Castleton, a 25-year-old center. "The Toronto Raptors announced Monday they have waived centre Colin Castleton," the team announced. "In 26 games (four starts) with Memphis, Philadelphia and Toronto last season, Castleton averaged 4.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 16.6 minutes. He signed consecutive 10-day contracts with the Raptors in March before signing a standard NBA contract Apr. 13, the final day of the regular season." Castleton went undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft, but was picked up by the Los Angeles Lakers. Through 16 appearances with the Lakers in his rookie year, Castleton averaged 1.5 points and 0.8 rebounds in just 3.7 minutes per game, but had a more productive sophomore campaign. To start the 2024-25 season, the Memphis Grizzlies signed Castleton to a two-way contract before waiving him, and he went on to earn a handful of ten-day deals with the Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers. Castleton shined in just an 11-game stint with the Raptors last season, averaging 7.2 points and 6.9 rebounds per game in two ten-day contract opportunities. Now, the 6-foot-11 big man hits the open market and could certainly earn a two-way spot elsewhere, or revert to the G League, where he stood out last season. However, an underwhelming 2025 Summer League with Toronto may turn some teams away.
Oilers to Acquire a Top-Tier Goalie. An Official Trade Offer Is on the Table in a Blockbuster Deal
Titans waive former first-round pick after latest injury
Treylon Burks‘ tenure in Tennessee is on track to come to an end. In the wake of his latest injury, the former first-rounder has been waived. This move has come with an injury designation, which comes as no surprise given the broken collarbone Burks recently suffered in training camp. Injuries have plagued the 25-year-old throughout his brief NFL tenure, which began when Tennessee selected him with the No. 18 pick in the 2022 draft. That selection was acquired by dealing A.J. Brown to the Eagles. Given the link between the two wideouts created by the trade, Burks’ evaluations have always been measured against Brown’s Philadelphia success. During each of his three seasons with the Eagles so far, Brown has earned a Pro Bowl nod and second-team All-Pro acclaim; the 28-year-old was also a key figure in the team’s Super Bowl success in 2025. Burks, by contrast, entered this summer on Tennessee’s roster bubble. The Arkansas product managed a career-best 444 yards as a rookie while being limited to 11 games. Optimism was high that, with better luck on the health front, he could round out his game and develop into a regular on offense with the Titans. Staying on the field has proven to be an issue, however — Burks missed six games again in 2023 and an ACL tear limited him to five contests last season — and when available he has not managed to meet expectations. The collarbone injury accelerated the timing for what could have been a decision to move on from the Titans closer to the start of the regular season. Tennessee’s receiver depth chart will once again be headlined by Calvin Ridley this season. Veteran Tyler Lockett was added in free agency, as was Van Jefferson. The Titans used the draft to add a pair of Day 3 prospects at the position (Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor), and they will look to handle backup roles during their rookie seasons. Tennessee entered Monday with nearly $30M in cap space, so finances will not be an issue if one of the veterans still on the market is targeted in the wake of this move. Burks is now headed to waivers, with all teams free to claim him. Provided he goes unclaimed, he will revert to injured reserve. Situations such as these often result in a release being worked out along with an injury settlement. If that proves to be the case for Burks, his Titans stint will end on an unwanted but unsurprising note.
Red Sox Aren't Getting Standout Back Anytime Soon
The Boston Red Sox got some bad news in the infield. Rookie infielder Marcelo Mayer has gotten a lot of time at second base and third base. Since Alex Bregman returned, Mayer has gotten most of his action at second base while also filling in as the Red Sox worked Bregman back slowly. Unfortunately, he's on the Injured List, though, due to a wrist sprain. MassLive.com's Christopher Smith shared the lastest update on Mayer from Red Sox manager Alex Cora on Saturday noted that he's "not gonna play soon." "No new updates on Marcelo Mayer's wrist sprain, Red Sox manager Alex Cora said," Smith shared. "'Just waiting for results and see specialists and all that stuff,' Cora added. 'He's not gonna play soon. So have to make sure where we're at and what the course of action is going to be.'" Losing Mayer is tough. Defense has been a question mark for Boston once again this season but Mayer has helped in that area. With Mayer out, Ceddanne Rafaela is expected to get a lot of action at second base. That helps to alleviate the logjam in the outfield, but also removes arguably the best defensive center fielder in the game. Boston isn't at full strength and Cora noting he's "not gonna play soon" certainly doesn't sound positive. Before going down, Mayer was slashing .228/.272/.402 with four homers, 10 RBIs, and eight doubles. Will the Red Sox add another piece ahead of the trade deadline? It absolutely makes sense at this point.
Green Bay Packers: Jaire Alexander Held Out of Baltimore Ravens Practice for Predictable Reason
One of the biggest storylines in the NFL this offseason was the decision the Green Bay Packers made to release two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander. Last year, the former first-round pick played in just seven games due to various injuries, including a torn PCL that cost him all but 10 snaps of the second half of the season. The year prior, he played just seven games as well due to other injuries. In other words, out of the past 34 possible regular season games, Alexander played in just 14 of them. Dating back to 2021, he played in just 34 out of a possible 68 regular season games, with 2022 being the only season in which he played more than seven contests. According to prior reports, Green Bay and Alexander disagreed on how his knee injury last season should be treated. This led to a fracture in their relationship and, eventually, the cornerback’s release. Former Green Bay Packers Cornerback Jaire Alexander Signed with the Baltimore Ravens Prior to his release, Alexander and the Packers had engaged in talks over a revised contract that would lower his salary cap hit and allow him to become a free agent following this upcoming season. However, he did not agree to Green Bay’s terms, and since no NFL team wanted to offer up draft capital in a trade for him, the Packers were forced to release him. Not only was this development a disappointment to fans, among whom Alexander was a favorite player, but it sparked concern that would join one of Green Bay’s NFC North division rivals. Instead, though, Alexander signed a one-year $6 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens. He had previously been linked to them due to the fact that he and two-time NFL MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson were teammates in college. Former Green Bay Packers Cornerback Jaire Alexander Missed Baltimore Ravens Practice with a Knee Injury Unfortunately for Alexander and the Ravens, the injury concerns that the Packers had regarding the star cornerback seem to have reappeared in Baltimore. According to multiple reporters, the two-time Pro Bowler did not practice on Monday due to swelling in his knee: Alexander is getting his knee drained and is expected to practice on Tuesday. But even though it is just one practice and he is just supposed to miss one day, the fact of the matter is that his knee will never be the same. This will be an injury that will affect him for the rest of his career, and could cause him to miss time during the season. While an unpopular decision among many, perhaps releasing Alexander was the right move for the Packers after all.
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