Boston Celtics projected lineup and rotations heading into 2023-24 season

Boston Celtics starting shooting guard: Jaylen Brown

Jaylen Brown is expected to sign a record supermax contract in the near future. The Celtics have been suspiciously quiet on that front, but it’s hard to imagine the two sides not coming to terms eventually — even after Brown’s horrific showing in Boston’s Game 7 loss to Miami.

And let’s be clear: that Game 7 performance was all-time stinky. Brown scored 19 points on 8-of-23 shooting and committed eight turnovers. It was a wake up call for him and the Celtics. At some point, the former No. 3 pick has to improve his handle or the Celtics have to change how the offense functions late in games.

Now, context is important. Brown’s game probably doesn’t stand out in the same light if Jayson Tatum wasn’t playing on a hobbled ankle in Game 7. The defense was able to turn all its attention toward Brown and he melted under the pressure. He’s certainly a limited self-creator, but the Celtics can’t afford to mess around and lose him for nothing in a year. He made second team All-NBA last season and he’s a 6-foot-7 mega-athlete on the wing who can score at every level and defend across the positional spectrum. Those don’t grow on trees.

Brown will continue to obliterate defenses with his explosive forays down the lane. He’s a great finisher at the rim and he’s more adept than most at hitting contested jumpers. If he can eventually develop a less rigid handle, there’s another level of stardom within his grasp. The Celtics can’t overreact to one bad game.

Primary backup shooting guard: Derrick White

The Celtics don’t have a ton of guard depth at the moment, but it won’t matter unless injuries strike. White and Brogdon will share a lot of time in the backcourt and that’s a good mix; their games are very complementary. That said, if either gets hurt or if Brown misses time, the Celtics could be scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Other players who could receive minutes at shooting guard: Malcolm Brogdon, Dalano Banton, Sam Hauser

Dalano Banton was an underrated offseason acquisition for Boston. He played sparsely in Toronto last season, but he’s a fluid 6-foot-7 wing who styles himself as a “point guard.” He’s probably better categorized under two-guard for the Celtics’ purposes, but Banton can get out and run and supply some connective passing off the pine. He’s a low-stakes development project worth monitoring at 23 years old.