Brad Stevens and the Boston Celtics obtained the offseason kicked off with a bang by buying and selling away Jrue Vacation and Kristaps Porzingis in an effort to get themselves below the dreaded 2nd Apron. They adopted that up with a range within the first spherical of the draft, a day two draft commerce, and a pair extra picks within the 2nd spherical (which by the way in which, saved them much more cash).
Subsequent #Celtics date to observe: JD Davison’s group possibility due SUN. Declining would drop C’s beneath the third tax bracket, deliver their tax hit right down to ~$43M & pull them inside $5.1M of the first apron line, $12.8M of the tax line
Not drafting a 2R to a roster deal saved them about $2.3M
— Bobby Manning (@RealBobManning) June 27, 2025
Even with all that motion and exercise, we’re nonetheless only a few days into the offseason calendar. It appears foolish to level this out, however there’s loads of time for Brad to maintain wheeling and dealing.
Word: I imagine the Celtics after they say they by no means critically thought of buying and selling Brown or White. You all the time must hear in case they provide a ridiculously silly overpay bundle, however even you then nonetheless must put star degree expertise round Tatum or else you’re messing with one thing particular.
Free company will open quickly and a few of the trades which were agreed to across the league haven’t even been finalized but. So there’s nonetheless an opportunity that the Celtics might increase these offers or flip a few of the incoming gamers elsewhere.
In truth, we’ve no less than two sources which have indicated that Stevens is making an attempt to just do that.
From MassLive’s Brian Robb
Nevertheless, with free company approaching and the Celtics prioritizing bringing again free brokers Al Horford and Luke Kornet, league sources inform MassLive that the Celtics are anticipated to stay energetic within the commerce market whereas retooling their roster. The group is predicted to discover their choices with newly acquired expertise like Anfernee Simons and Georges Niang and different components of the roster together with Sam Hauser.
From The Athletic’s Jay King
Seeking to proceed shedding wage, the Celtics have explored the concept of flipping Simons’ $27.7 million expiring contract, in response to league sources. In such a transfer, they might be aiming to perform two organizational directives Brad Stevens emphasised after the primary spherical of the NBA Draft on Wednesday: regaining extra roster flexibility and organising a path to retain free brokers Luke Kornet and Al Horford.
We’ve heard rather a lot from the Celtics about maximizing that flexibility. A few of that’s simply code for reducing prices. Nevertheless, these value reducing strikes do assist you to make strikes and will even open up sufficient area to assist us re-sign our facilities and/or hold onto Sam Hauser (who’s on an excellent worth contract for his manufacturing).
Each Simons and Niang inherently give the Celtics flexibility since they’re on expiring contracts. They are often dealt immediately or the group might wait until the commerce deadline. These two together with Sam Hauser all possess the very worthwhile skillset of with the ability to shoot the ball with excessive effectivity.
The roster and depth chart won’t make a ton of sense at this second, and that’s okay. There’s nonetheless loads of time to place collectively a extra cohesive quick time period roster whereas sustaining the pliability to make strikes afterward. The group won’t be keen to say this out loud, nevertheless it virtually doesn’t matter what the roster appears to be like like on opening evening. (And there can be no scarcity of mini-goals that the teaching employees can have for the gamers) So long as all of it is sensible and is able to compete on the highest ranges when Jayson Tatum returns to the court docket.
