Early NBA Power Rankings For 2013-14

Jul 5, 2013; Waltham, MA, USA; New Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens smiles during a news conference announcing his new position. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

#30. Boston Celtics

2012-2013: 41-40 (6th seed)

Head Coach: Brad Stevens

Signed: Brandon Bass, Keith Bogans, Avery Bradley, MarShon Brooks, Jordan Crawford, Jeff Green, Kris Humphries, Courtney Lee, Fab Melo, Kelly Olynyk, Shavlik Randolph, Rajon Rondo, Jared Sullinger, Gerald Wallace

Rationale: After a half-decade of tweaking, Danny Ainge decided to blow it up after the Celtics lost to the New York Knicks in the first round of the playoffs, their worst finish since the trade for Kevin Garnett in 2007. Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry were traded to the Brooklyn Nets for warm bodies and draft picks. The Celtics enter next season without their locker room leader, defensive anchor and post staple (Garnett), their captain and closer (Pierce), or their floor general (Rondo, recovering from an ACL injury). Every Celtic on the roster besides Rondo is a roleplayer–the same Rondo who is the subject of non-stop trade rumors. Ainge also hired an elite college coach with zero years of NBA experience to oversee the rebuild. It’s safe to say the Celtics are planning to lose early, often and brutally for the foreseeable future.