Celtics Rank Surprisingly Low In ESPN's 'Now or Later' NBA Rankings

Celtics Rank Surprisingly Low In ESPN's 'Now or Later' NBA Rankings originally appeared on NESN . Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here . Ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season, ESPN ranked which teams most need to win now. The rankings factored in each team's projected future spending and the value of its future first-round picks. "The Jaylen Brown trade reset the Celtics' competitive clock a bit, lessening pressure on their long-term cap sheet and bringing back new draft assets," wrote ESPN's Zach Kram .