Celtics Health Check: Only Devin Carter Out for Opening Night vs. Pistons
Mononucleosis could sideline two-way guard Devin Carter for several weeks, but the rest of Boston's roster is cleared for Tuesday's opener.
Mono could cost him weeks; no roster spot worth holding here.
- Carter out with mono, could miss several weeks
- Rest of Celtics roster cleared for Tuesday opener
- Boston went 4-0 in preseason, Detroit 3-1
- Pistons led the East last year at 60-22
- Celtics went 1-3 vs Pistons in 2025-26
Boston released a clean injury report ahead of Tuesday's season opener against Detroit, with one glaring exception. Two-way guard Devin Carter is out with an illness — specifically mononucleosis — a diagnosis that could cost him several weeks. Carter only signed his two-way deal Sunday after starting the year on an Exhibit 10, so this is a rough way to begin his Celtics tenure.
Everyone else is good to go. In the two preseason games where Boston rolled out its full squad, the Celtics opened with Derrick White, Jordan Walsh, Jayson Tatum, Paul George and Mitchell Robinson — though that lineup isn't locked in as the regular-season default. Boston cruised through the preseason at 4-0, beating the Sixers twice plus the Cavaliers and Hornets.
The opponent is a problem. Detroit finished last season with the East's best record at 60-22, with Boston close behind at 56-26 for the second seed. The head-to-head went Detroit's way, 3-1, before the Pistons' run ended against Cleveland in the conference semis.
A Reshaped Pistons Team
This isn't quite the same Detroit that bullied the league last year. They lost Tobias Harris to the Spurs in free agency and shipped Isaiah Stewart to Memphis. The replacements are forward John Collins (acquired from the Clippers) and Isaiah Joe (via Oklahoma City). Detroit's expected opening five: Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Collins and Jalen Duren.
Cunningham remains the engine and a bona fide fantasy stud — our #7 overall guy (#4 at the position) who posted 23.9 points, 9.9 assists and 48.2 fantasy points per game in 2025-26 over 64 games. One flag: he's limped into the new year, down 15.6 fantasy points over his last five versus his season average. On the other side, Derrick White (our #50 overall) is a reliable 35.4 FPTS/G producer from 2025-26, though he too cooled off late, trailing his average by 12.7 over his final five.
The fantasy read on Carter is simple: cut bait. He's our #231 overall player, a deep-league flier at best, and mono plus a two-way contract means he's not touching a rotation for weeks. Even his hot finish last season — +14.5 fantasy points over his last five above an 18.8 FPTS/G baseline — doesn't make him rosterable while sidelined indefinitely. Drop him, stash the spot for someone who'll actually play, and circle back if he surfaces healthy down the line.
