A brand new staff has emerged as a possible Jrue Vacation vacation spot.
In keeping with MassLives’ Brian Robb, the Los Angeles Clippers are a staff that would become involved in a possible Vacation commerce because the Celtics attempt to get underneath the 2nd apron.
New: The Celtics outbid a number of groups for Jrue Vacation earlier than buying the veteran guard from the Blazers in 2023. A type of earlier suitors is predicted to point out curiosity once more in Vacation this summer time, a league supply tells MassLive. Extra: https://t.co/zliflayzrg
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) Might 28, 2025
Vacation is predicted to be pursued by a number of groups on the commerce market, and a league supply tells MassLive that the Los Angeles Clippers are one staff anticipated to point out curiosity within the 34-year-old guard this offseason. The Celtics outbid a number of groups, together with the Clippers, per sources, for Vacation again in 2023 when the Blazers made the two-time All-Star out there following the Damian Lillard blockbuster deal to the Bucks. Boston ended up dealing Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams and two future first- spherical picks for Vacation within the deal earlier than coaching camp that helped lead the Celtics to a 2024 title.
Whereas it’s unclear what the Clippers closing supply finally was, they had been within the sweepstakes of making an attempt to land Vacation after he was traded to the Blazers for Damian Lillard.
The Clippers report comes a couple of days after Marc Stein reported that the Dallas Mavericks could possibly be fascinated about Vacation.
Any deal that includes the Clippers would see the Celtics probably take Bogdan Bogdanovic, his $16 million wage. If Boston and Los Angeles can full the commerce earlier than the calendar turns to July and the brand new league yr begins the deal Robb talked about in his story of Vacation for Bogdanovic, Drew Eubanks and one in all Jordan Miller, Kobe Brown or Cam Christie, brother of Mavericks guard Max Christie, works.
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Nonetheless, if the deal is finished after the July 6 moratorium is lifted, that deal wouldn’t work on account of Vacation’s rising wage and Eubanks and Bogdanovic’s reducing wage.
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In a deal that takes place after the league yr flip, it might require the Celtics to tackle Kris Dunn’s $5 million contract, one thing the probably don’t need to do. The Clippers probably additionally don’t need to surrender Dunn in the event that they don’t should.
If the groups resolve to attend as a result of the Clippers would moderately transfer Dunn that one in all their younger guys, Boston would probably flip each Dunn and Eubanks in that commerce so utilizing the Nets’ cap area. In consequence, it may appear like this.
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In that deal, Boston would wish to maneuver picks to get off of Eubanks and Dunn, one thing I’m positive they wish to keep away from.
For every staff that desires Vacation, it lessens the probably hood that Boston would wish to connect draft picks to get off of the remaining 3 years and $104 million left on his contract. Which is in fact what Brad Stevens and firm wish to keep away from of their quest to get underneath the second apron.
I do not assume Boston might want to connect picks to get off of Vacation, yearly you hear a couple of staff that desires a veteran participant who has been by the wars of the playoffs to assist lead their younger expertise. Who higher to do this than Vacation? He has received titles in his first season on new groups as effectively.
Getting underneath the second apron is significant for the Celtics, as Celticsblog’s Bobby Manning talked about in his Vacation to Dallas rumor story.
Subsequent season’s roster tasks to value roughly $500 million between payroll and repeater tax penalties, and one other season above the second apron line would freeze the Celtics’ 2033 first spherical decide. They should spend three of the following 4 seasons under to unfreeze 2032, whereas two years out of the tax resets the repeater penalty. Utilizing Tatum’s hiatus to reset these clocks may put the staff in the most effective place to contend when he returns. However they’ll depend on facilitators like Brooklyn to maneuver off cash, or bigger trades rising. That might result in some painful strikes.
So anticipate the Celtics to do all the things they will to get underneath the second apron this summer time and to remain underneath the second apron over the following handful of seasons.



















