CELTICS

Boston Celtics offseason recap: Al Horford puts C's in East's upper echelon

AJ Neuharth-Keusch
USA TODAY Sports
Boston Celtics forward Al Horford holds up a jersey during a media availability at the team's practice facility, Friday, July 8, 2016, in Waltham, Mass.

With the bulk of NBA free agency in the books, USA TODAY Sports explores how all of the offseason moves will alter each team as we look ahead to the 2016-17 season.

What do you think the starting five of your favorite team should be? Head over to @usatodaynba on Twitter and tell us.

Projected starting five: Boston Celtics

(Statistics from 2015-16 season)

  • Isaiah Thomas - Points: 22.2, assists: 6.2, rebounds: 3.0, steals: 1.1, field goal percentage: 43.7%
  • Avery Bradley - Points: 15.2, rebounds: 2.9, assists: 2.1, steals: 1.5, field goal percentage: 44.7%
  • Jae Crowder - Points: 14.2, rebounds: 5.1, assists: 1.8, steals: 1.7, field goal percentage: 44.3%
  • ​Amir Johnson - Points: 7.3, rebounds: 6.4, assists: 1.7, blocks: 1.1, field goal percentage: 58.5%
  • Al Horford (with Atlanta) - Points: 15.2, rebounds: 7.3, assists: 3.2, blocks: 1.5, field goal percentage: 50.5%

Added - Horford, Johnson (re-signed), Tyler Zeller (re-signed), Gerald Green, Jaylen Brown, Ante Zizic, Demetrius Jackson, Ben Bentil

Lost - Evan Turner, Jared Sullinger

Biggest acquisition - Horford

For a team with little production from their bigs in recent years, adding an all-around talent and veteran locker room presence like Horford is exactly what the Celtics needed to take the next step — or leap — forward.

Biggest departure - Turner

Boston's rotation will take a hit without the versatile 27-year-old, who finished fifth in Sixth Man of the Year voting and averaged 10.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists last season. But all things considered, the Celtics came out of the free agency frenzy in the Eastern Conference's upper echelon.

X factor - Crowder

The high-energy, defensive-minded 26-year-old was one of the NBA's most improved players last season, posting career-highs in points, rebounds, assists, steals, field goal percentage, three-point percentage and minutes. He's not be the biggest star in Boston, but with his do-it-all capabilities, he might just be the team's most important asset.

Offseason grade - A

Check out our other offseason recaps: Atlanta Hawks

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