Power-ranking the 10 biggest challengers to the Lakers in 2020-21

4. Boston Celtics

Once Gordon Hayward opts in for $35.2 million, the Boston Celtics’ only relatively notable free agents remaining will be Enes Kanter (player option) and Brad Wanamaker (a restricted free agent who is entirely replaceable). In other words, this young Celtics team that reached the conference finals by knocking off a very good Raptors squad is not going anywhere anytime soon.

Kemba Walker wasn’t great in his first conference finals appearance, but Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are rapidly becoming two-way superstars. Marcus Smart has drastically improved his 3-point shot, and if the Celtics can just get one fully healthy season out of Hayward, that’s a nasty mix of playmaking, shooting and two-way versatility for other teams to contend with in a playoff series.

Brad Stevens is one of the best coaches in the NBA, so if the Celtics can slightly improve their depth, they have the core rotation to reach the Finals for the first time since 2010.