One of the biggest reasons for the Cleveland Cavaliers having a relatively open path to winning the Eastern Conference in 2025-26 is the turmoil which the Boston Celtics have endured in recent months. Another shakeup in the front office just added to the chaos in Beantown.
Shams Charania reported, "Wyc Grousbeck will no longer stay on as governor as part of the Boston Celtics' $6.1 billion sale to Bill Chisholm, sources tell [ESPN]. ... Plan had been for Grousbeck to remain through 2028. Chisholm assumes governor title and the transfer will be finalized soon."
Grousbeck had been governor of the Celtics for over two decades. The front office executive stepped into that role all the way back in 2002. The change in leadership for a major Eastern Conference rival should be more significant than some Cavaliers fans may believe at first.
The Celtics have been a model organization during the time Grousbeck has presided over the team. Boston enjoyed two championships, one in 2008 and the other in 2024, during that time. With Grousbeck stepping aside, the Cavaliers will hope the move provides further opportunity for their own title window.
Power shift in the East should benefit Cavaliers' title chase
The ripple effects of Chisholm's takeover in Boston were already being felt. The Celtics were long rumored to be eyeing major changes to the roster, and salary cap bill, before Jayson Tatum went down with a torn Achilles.
Grousbeck shifting out of his usual position of authority could mean the Celtics will take a little more time to stabilize than what would have otherwise been expected. That is naturally good news for the Cavaliers, hoping to strike and win an NBA championship within the next couple of seasons.
The threat of the Celtics was greatly minimized for the 2025-26 campaign with their best player being absent. However, had Boston stayed afloat during that time, and Tatum was potentially ahead of schedule in his injury recovery, it would have left the door open for some aggressive opportunism.
Who knows if the Celtics will have that same kind of boldness under a new governor who has pushed to purge costs in the early stages of an ownership shift?
The time it will take for Boston to stabilize under their new ownership and governor could mean they may not be completely ready to challenge the Cavaliers in the 2026-27 NBA season either. These things can require patience, and for Cleveland, time is of the essence.
The Cavaliers will be trying to make the most out of the championship window, or face the music for the failures of that pursuit. Not having the Celtics provide as large of a challenge as they otherwise would bodes well for the hopes of all Clevelanders.