For the Celtics, the past few months have been fairly depressing, though predictable. The team has used this offseason not as a way to vault back into championship contention in 2025-26, but rather to undo the title team it put forth in 2024.

Celtics president Brad Stevens has said throughout the offseason that the team wanted Joe Mazzulla to be its coach for a long time. It made that more than a proclamation Friday, announcing it has signed Mazzulla to a multiyear contract extension.

Mazzulla, who led the Celtics to their 18th championship a year ago, was entering the final year of his contract with the team.