After making their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in four seasons, the Boston Celtics made numerous roster changes as only four players remain from the 2016-17 NBA season. For the second consecutive season, they made a splash in free agency by signing Gordon Hayward to a four-year, $127 million deal.

Hayward, who has reunited with head coach Brad Stevens, could play some power forward in small ball lineups according to Scott Souza of GateHouse Media:

As teams are embracing small ball, the Celtics have numerous options with Hayward, Marcus Morris, and Jayson Tatum. Should Stevens ultimately go with Hayward at power forward, he is a career 36.8 percent three-point shooter and would provide the Celtics with even more spacing for Kyrie Irving.

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Blake Griffin with Celtics players telling him to come back before retirement.

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A newspaper as the background, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown with the Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, and Atlanta Hawks logos in the background

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Jaylen Brown in a celtics jersey next to Jrue Holiday (Team USA jersey) on the right and Jayson Tatum on the left (Team USA jersey). they can all be smiling/hyped and the background can be american/olympic themed

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While the Golden State Warriors are expected to win their third championship in four NBA Finals appearances, the Celtics are in the conversation to dethrone them. With a big three of their own established, their first challenge will be to dethrone LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference.

As Irving wants to prove he can be a team's first option, there will be plenty of storylines. Fortunately for basketball fans, they do not have to wait long as both teams will face off against each other in the 2017-18 NBA season opener on Oct. 17.