With NBA training camps now just around the corner, the Boston Celtics’ offseason is coming under the microscope — and one prominent evaluation has raised plenty of questions about where the franchise stands heading into the new campaign.

Boston entered the summer facing major decisions, but few developments were bigger than the decision to trade Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers. The move fundamentally changed the Celtics’ roster and left the organization facing a very different path heading into the 2026-27 season.

Now, Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes has assessed Boston’s offseason and handed the Celtics a C+ grade.

That assessment is hardly a disaster, but it does underline just how uncertain the next chapter could be for the franchise.

The biggest reason behind the grade is obvious: Brown is no longer in Boston.

For years, Brown had been one of the most important pieces alongside Jayson Tatum. Removing a player of that calibre naturally creates questions about whether the Celtics have weakened themselves in the short term, even if the organization believes the move will ultimately benefit them over a longer period.

Hughes’ assessment essentially comes down to whether Boston’s front office has correctly calculated the risks involved.

The Celtics received Paul George as part of the reshaped roster, while Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley also arrive as notable additions. George, in particular, could become one of the most important variables in determining whether Boston’s gamble works.

And that is where things become particularly interesting.

Paul George Could Hold the Key

Boston is now asking George to take on a significant role alongside Tatum.

On paper, the pairing has plenty of intrigue. George brings scoring ability, perimeter creation and extensive NBA experience, potentially giving Boston another player capable of carrying an offensive burden when Tatum needs support.

The obvious concern, however, is availability.

George appeared in only 78 regular-season games combined across the previous two seasons. That makes his health one of the major uncertainties surrounding Boston’s new-look roster.

If he stays healthy and manages to rediscover the level that made him one of the league’s premier two-way perimeter players, the Celtics could have a very different ceiling from what some observers currently expect.

But if injuries continue to interrupt his availability, the Brown trade could look considerably more complicated.

That is why the C+ assessment comes with an important caveat.

The grade is not necessarily a declaration that Boston had a poor offseason. Instead, it reflects the enormous uncertainty surrounding the decisions made by president of basketball operations Brad Stevens.

The Celtics have effectively placed their future in the hands of a new roster construction and are hoping the organization has correctly identified the direction it needs to take.

Boston Has Bet on Its Own Plan

The Brown trade carries obvious risks.

Losing a proven All-Star-calibre player can make an immediate impact, particularly when the remaining roster now has to adjust to a different hierarchy.

But Boston clearly believes there is another route forward.

Tatum remains the central figure, while George potentially gives him a high-level offensive partner. Robinson adds size and interior presence, while Conley brings veteran experience and another ball-handling option.

The question is whether those additions can collectively compensate for what Boston lost.

That answer will not come from preseason expectations or offseason grades.

It will come once the games begin.

The Celtics are therefore entering training camp with something to prove. Their offseason has generated debate because the organization made a decision that could dramatically alter its short-term competitiveness while potentially serving a different long-term objective.

For now, the C+ grade reflects that uncertainty.

Boston supporters will ultimately judge the offseason very differently if George stays healthy, Tatum takes another step and the new pieces fit together quickly.

If that happens, the Brown trade could eventually look very different from how it appears today.

But if the new roster struggles to replace Brown’s production and George cannot stay on the floor, the criticism surrounding the summer will become much louder.

Either way, the Celtics have created one of the NBA’s biggest storylines before the new season has even started.

The real verdict will come on the court.