Why Paul George Could DEFINE Celtics Future | Celtics Beat

Evan Valenti and Adam Kaufman bring in Bobby Krivitsky for a wide-ranging Celtics Beat covering everything ahead of the 2026-27 season. The guys open with the win total debate — is 50.5 the right number for a team that got harder to predict overnight? With Paul George and Jayson Tatum both candidates for load management, the schedule and depth chart take on new importance. Bobby breaks down why the Paul George fit makes more sense than the skeptics think, and why the young core — Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, and Hugo Gonzalez — could be the real key to Boston's ceiling. Joe Mazzulla's seat gets examined, the Steph Curry trade rumors get firmly rejected, and Paul George's long-term value as an asset gets debated. The episode closes with a genuinely fun Celtics point guard Mount Rushmore argument — Rondo vs. Isaiah Thomas. 0:00 – Intro & Celtics season outlook 1:38 – Win total debate: over or under 50.5? 4:13 – Eastern Conference got harder — why that matters 8:16 – Load management: Paul George & Jayson Tatum's minutes 11:36 – Young core & the opportunity for Baylor, Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez 15:22 – PrizePicks 18:12 – Paul George fit & offensive identity 24:51 – The biggest concern: frontcourt depth 27:35 – This season's defining theme & questions 31:06 – Joe Mazzulla on the hot seat? 36:12 – Paul George as a future trade asset 43:00 – Steph Curry trade rumors: do the Celtics want him? 44:35 – Young roster depth & Ron Harper Jr. signing 48:02 – Doc Rivers' Hall of Fame speech reaction 53:24 – Best Celtics PG of all time: Rondo vs. Isaiah debate 59:22 – Outro Celtics on CLNS Media is Powered by: 💰 PrizePicks - Sign up at http://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CLNS & Download the app today and use code CLNS to get $150 instantly in Lineups if you win your first $5 Lineup! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices