The Boston Celtics Might Never Be The Same…

The Boston Celtics Might Never Be The Same…

In 2025, the Boston Celtics had a season where they won 61 games and realistically could have repeated given how historically dominant they were on the road and since they had practically the same team that won the title the year prior. However, this season pretty much ended in disaster. They blew two 20point leads at home to a New York Knicks team that they swept during the regular season and eventually lost the series in just six games. one of the brightest stars in the league in Jason Tatum ruptured his Achilles in game four and will miss most if not all the 2026 season and even Jaylen Brown might potentially have surgery that could sideline him for some time. On top of everything, the Boston Celtics were recently sold to new ownership. with the new ownership suggesting that the current roster with its major salaries isn’t sustainable. Meaning that they will be looking to trade one if not multiple of the Celtics core pieces this off season because of new ownership and the injury timeline of Jason Tatum. The Boston Celtics as we know it might never look the same. In this video, we’re going to be seeing which players could be sacrificed in the near future and what realistic paths the Celtics could pivot in order to salvage the contending status that they have. Before we continue, I would greatly appreciate if you would drop a like on video as that goes a long way for me as a creator and also sub for more content like this. So, first things first, we need to look at the extreme financial situation the Celtics find themselves in and why they have to make sacrifices to begin with. The Boston Celtics, as you may or may not know, are a secret apron team and have been a second apron team for two consecutive years now and will have the highest payroll in the league by far at $223.9 million. This crazy figure comes from the Celtics bringing back everyone from their title team to massive extensions. Even prior to raising batter 18, Jaylen Brown got the first ever $300 million deal in the league, Tatum would break Jaylen Brown’s record-breaking deal just the next off season. And even Drew Holiday and Derek White reached multi-year lucrative extensions. But again, the Celtics are a second apron team. There are obvious massive hurdles that come with being a second apron team, but also with being a repeating second apron team, which hinders your ability to make trades, pick up players in the buyout market, your ability to hand out veteran minimum contracts, and even the possibility of your draft pick being pushed to the literal end of the NBA draft. This could happen if the Celtics remain a second apron team next season, which would mark the third straight season in which the Celtics would be a second apron team. These second apron restrictions don’t just directly affect your ability to make improvements to the roster. But having the highest payroll in the league means that owners are going to have to be paying legendary amounts of luxury tax, which obviously cuts into the profits of the team, which is obviously far from ideal. So, the next step that has to be made is seeing exactly who the Celtics can let go of in order to have the semblance of a competitive squad in 2026 and onward since the Celtics must unload $20 million this off season to stay under the second apron. Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown are obviously untouchables here given that both are cornerstones of the franchise. Both have proven that they can make deep runs and even win a title together as a duo. Neither of them are even 30 yet, and I feel that dealing either would be very shortsighted. I’m not even going to further discuss a Jason Tatum trade because the idea of trading him is just blasphemous. But his absence next season doesn’t mean that they should rush and entertain a Jaylen Brown trade either. Because whether or not you feel Jaylen Brown can be the best player on a championship team or even lead you to deep run next season, next year is just a gap year. You only project Jason Tatum to miss next season. And you should expect him to make a full recovery for 2027 and onward. He might not necessarily be himself right off the bat when he returns from injury. And everyone responds differently to this injury, but he eventually will get back to the swing of things. and will need a running mate for supports if this Celtics squad wants to be competitive. This is where it gets interesting because the Celtics could look to trade their third option in Christops Porzingis. Porzingis has actually been awesome for the Celtics over the last two seasons and is still one of the best bigs in the NBA. even on more limited shots than earlier in his career. He provides great value as a floor spacer is actually one of the best post scorers in the league attacks closeouts and has been great as a role man and rim protector. The problem with Porzingis, as much with much of his career, has been injuries. KP sadly only played 42 games in the 2025 season and 57 games in the 2024 season. And let’s not forget that he famously only played seven postseason games last year and was a complete shell of himself this year due to injuries and the mysterious illness he picked up during the season that unfortunately plagued his season. He’s a great player and the Celtics are better with him. However, with the best ability being availability and them needing to cut $20 million in salary, the Celtics could deal him. There are a few problems though. KP obviously has an availability issue and makes $30 million per season and for offices across the league already know this, meaning you might only get pennies on the dollar for him or have teams unwilling to take on his deal due to the money that he makes. Secondly, KP only has one year left on his deal. If the idea is to shed salary, then you’re not trading Porzingis for a lengthier deal, unless it’s considerably less than his, where the difference would allow you to cut into that $20 million figure. And given that he’s still a useful player, you definitely don’t want to trade him within the Eastern Conference, at least still competitive team. That’s just one option. But here’s one they can’t explore, and that’s trading Derek White. Since being acquired at the 2022 NBA trade deadline, Derek White has been invaluable for the Celtics. He just set the record for most three-pointers made by a Celtic in a single season. But beyond just three-point shooting, this a player who plays perfectly in his role. Someone who can defend and serve as an underrated rim protector due to his ability as a help defender, play well off the ball, operate as a ball handler, and greater. He even steps up when adversity strikes to be the top option on their team. I wouldn’t even entertain trading Derek White, but I would entertain trading his older backcourt mates in Drew Holiday. Drew Holiday was also invaluable to the Celtics 2024 triumph as one of the best guard defenders we’ve seen, also being someone who excelled at hitting corner threes and someone who could be another ball handler and creator for the team. The thing is, he just agreed to a 4-year extension worth $134 million, is turning 35 in June. Not only that, he took a step back in 2025 and could continue to regress because of his age. While he still has value, I’d reckon the Celtics dangle him in a trade to get a considerably lower contract or combination of contracts since Drew still has value even though he’s soon to be 35, but will be a 38-year-old unrestricted free agent in 2029. Guys, let me know down below what you would do as Brad Stevens in the front office. Which player or combination of players are you trading to get below the second tax apron? And which players do you feel are non-negotiable in deals? Guys, if you want to know about how Tyres Hallebertton is completely lighting up the NBA playoffs and how he’s changed the game for the Pacers, click on the video on the screen above. Be sure to like and subscribe. See you all on the next one.

After Jayson Tatum’s injury and shocking loss to the New York Knicks, the Boston Celtics are in for major changes this offseason. With them needing to escape the second tax apron, one or more of the team’s core players MUST be traded.