The 13th seed of the East, the Toronto Raptors just did it again. First, they stunned the Warriors. Now, they’ve sent the mighty Boston Celtics packing. The second seed of the East couldn’t crack the code, falling by—yes—just three points. Another heartbreak, another head-scratcher for Joe Mazzulla. The C’s coach is running out of answers, while the Raptors are stacking up surprises.

It’s of course strange to see the reigning champions not play their usual game. The rhythm seems to be off on days when they lose. And even Joe Mazzulla can vouch for it that Jayson Tatum and Co. weren’t at their best performance at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday. JT chipped in 16 points, Jaylen Brown was at 10, and only Payton Pritchard could get 20.

Thus speaking to the media in the post-game presser, Mazzulla had a request for his boys. “Nothing just stick together,” the head coach urged. “Obviously, we are not playing our best basketball. Can’t expect things to always be easy. You know you can’t have an expectation that it’s always supposed to go your way because it’s not. We just have to find a way to enjoy the challenge but make sure we do it together.”

What’s going on with the reigning champs? The Boston Celtics are 7-7 in their last 14 games, and the numbers tell a troubling story—slumping 3-point shooting, a shaky net rating for the starters, and more. But after Wednesday’s stunning 110-97 loss to the 9-31 Raptors, Kristaps Porzingis pointed to something stats can’t fix. “I think we played with no spirit, with no personality,” Porzingis told reporters. “It’s just a weak performance from us, honestly. We just play with no personality right now.”

The Celtics couldn’t buy a bucket, shooting a dismal 39.6%—their third-worst of the season—and bricking half their free throws (9 of 18). But hey, bad shooting happens. The real issue? Their vibe. Boston’s usual spark and swagger were MIA in Toronto, leaving fans wondering, “Where’s the joy, guys?”

While the drama and woes continue on the court, something is brewing off it. The Boston Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck is looking for some prospects for his $6 billion franchise. Well, what’s going on?

Boston Celtics to receive bids from prospective buyers soon

It looks like Wyc Grousbeck is going to Michael Jordan’s path. MJ sold the majority of his stakes in the Charlotte Hornets in 2023. And now, the Grousbeck family is looking forward to doing something similar with the Boston Celtics. According to the Boston Globe: “The Celtics’ ownership group will receive the first round of bids from prospective buyers on Jan. 23, according to a Tuesday letter from the Grousbeck family to the rest of the Boston Basketball Partners and Boston Championship Basketball stakeholders that was obtained by the Globe.” 

The Grousbecks are seeing strong interest in the sale of the Celtics, with investment banks actively engaging with potential buyers for months. The family is targeting a “first close” this spring. Initially, they planned to sell 51% of the team by early 2025, with the remaining stake closing in 2028, while Wyc Grousbeck would maintain control until then.

The owners are selling their entire stake in the Boston Celtics for estate and family planning reasons. Steve Pagliuca, co-owner of the team, is the only one to publicly express intent to bid, with minority owner Robert Hale also hinting at his interest. Having acquired the Celtics for $360 million in 2002, the franchise is now expected to fetch nearly $6 billion, according to industry experts.

Thus, the Celtics are in the midst of a rough patch, struggling to find their rhythm. While the team faces challenges on the court, off-court changes loom large with the potential sale of the franchise. The Grousbecks are ready to pass the torch, and with bids rolling in, the Celtics’ future might soon take a dramatic turn. Will the team find its spark again? Only time will tell.