Chowder and Champions

This comeback story the Boston Red Sox are writing has been a ton of fun. I can't argue with that. About a month ago, I and so many others had written the team off completely, and it was easy to see why. They were briefly at the bottom of the AL standings with a not-so-appealing offense, a great pitching staff that had no run support, and a plethora of injuries to key players to deal with. Everybody said the team should sell at the deadline. But things are changing now.

The Boston Celtics might actually be pretty good. Seriously. I know a lot of people are still upset about the Jaylen Brown trade, the failed Giannis Antetokounmpo pursuit, and the fact that they didn't make a big improvement at center (these are all fair, to be honest), but the Celtics are still going to be a good team next season. Are they championship contenders? Probably not. They weren't real contenders even before the offseason began, and nothing they did changed that.

Admittedly, I have come around to the blockbuster Jaylen Brown-Paul George trade from the Boston Celtics' perspective. At least a little bit. Trading Brown gives Jayson Tatum the reins as the clear No. 1 guy for the first time in his NBA career, it gives Boston more financial and roster flexibility for the long run (and optionality... too soon?), and, on paper, George might be a better fit in the system because of his catch-and-shoot abilities and recent history as a connector/sidekick.

Heading into next season, the Boston Celtics will have a decision to make regarding who will be the starting center. Boston's two options are this past season's starter, Neemias Queta, or the recent free agent signing, Mitchell Robinson. Both options have merits as to why they should get the starting nod. For Queta, he's been in Boston's system for three years now, and his play has improved each year.

The Boston Celtics' decision to trade Jaylen Brown (specifically to the Philadelphia 76ers and for an aging Paul George) was heavily criticized in the moment, and it's going to be a long time before we know who came out of it the best. Either way, the Brown trade drastically changed Boston's dynamic, firmly making Jayson Tatum its unquestionable No. 1 guy for the first time in his career. And now, a lot of pressure is on him and George to prove they can win together.

Willson Contreras, who has been considered a potential trade candidate amid the Boston Red Sox' buyer/seller dilemma this year, has made it clear that he doesn't want to go anywhere. And the Red Sox should oblige that and keep him around past the trade deadline and beyond. "Boston, to me, has been the best: the fans, the team, the front office, my teammates. I wouldn't change a thing from Boston. ... I just like it. I just love it there. I told them, too, I was like, 'Man, just let me stay here.

Chris Cenac Jr. possesses a lot of defensive potential because of his mobility and versatility (can guard multiple positions in, around, and outside the paint), and that's what made him such an intriguing draft pick for the Boston Celtics last month. And through his first few games in summer league, he's showing a different side of his defensive prowess: his shot-blocking. In his lone season as a Houston Cougar, Cenac recorded 18 blocks in 37 games (0.5 blocks per game).

The Boston Red Sox had opened Day 2 of the 2026 MLB Draft with a big one. With the 156th overall pick in the fifth round, they selected right-hander Lucas Davenport out of Baylor University. Standing at 6'6", 230 lbs, he also fits the mold of what the Red Sox look for, with his size and his velocity. As a redshirt junior, he struck out 69 batters while walking only 16 batters as Baylor's Friday-night starter.

Many are still questioning the Boston Celtics' decision to trade Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for an 80-year-old Paul George and some picks. And right now, a lot will need to go right for Boston to justify this trade.

He isn't an MVP talent or anything like that (no offense, but it's true), but the Boston Celtics have something in John Tonje. He's a player worth keeping an eye on moving forward, and it could be worth it for the Celtics to give him an expanded role at some point soon. Boston acquired Tonje from the Utah Jazz as part of last season's Chris Boucher trade, and even though he's played limited minutes for the team since joining, he has shown flashes.