There’s a chance that the Boston Celtics’ roster will receive a major facelift this offseason. After a disappointing year ended with a quick second-round playoff exit, the team’s top players are set to become free agents.

It’s long been expected that Kyrie Irving would hit the open market, and the odds of the point guard returning to Boston appear slim, at best. Al Horford will reportedly join him in free agency, leaving no guarantee that the veteran will return to the Celtics.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Horford will decline his $30.1 million player option for the 2019-2020 season. The report notes that there’s “motivation” for the two sides to come to terms on a long-term contract.

That same incentive doesn’t seem to be there on Irving’s part. Rumors are swirling that the 27-year-old has already decided to join the Brooklyn Nets, even though the Celtics can offer him a more lucrative contract.

Irving indicated last fall that he intended to stay with Boston beyond this season. Boston had plans of pairing him with Anthony Davis and creating a championship contender for years to come.

But when Irving’s future with the team became a question mark, the Celtics were no longer willing to trade the New Orleans Pelicans their most valuable assets for a player that would become a free agent in 2020. Davis was sent to the Los Angeles Lakers, his preferred destination.

The Celtics weren’t able to land the league’s best big man. Boston is pursuing other deals, hoping to upgrade the roster without giving up Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown.

Boston owns the No.14, No.20 and No.22 overall picks in Thursday’s NBA Draft. According to Wojnarowski, the Celtics are trying to trade at least one of those selections.

Half of Boston’s top-eight scorers from this past season will be free agents. Point guard Terry Rozier will be a restricted free agent and is more likely to return now that Irving is as good as gone. Marcus Morris, who averaged 13.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, might sign elsewhere.

The Celtics can be one of the East’s best teams if they keep Horford and use their draft picks to make another addition.

Gordon Hayward might return to being an All-Star-caliber player in his second season back from suffering a broken ankle. Kawhi Leonard could leave the Toronto Raptors in free agency, weakening the defending champions.

Boston went 49-33 in the 2018-2019 season as the No.4 seed in the conference.

AL Horford
Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the second half of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2019 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, May 6, 2019. Getty Images/Maddie Meyer
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