The Boston Celtics have loads of troublesome selections to make this offseason after their latest second-round collection loss to the New York Knicks and Jayson Tatum’s Achilles harm.

Celtics Are Projected To Have $500 Million Payroll For 2025-26

Based on ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the Celtics are projected to not less than double their $240 million payroll from this season and consequently discover themselves over the second apron once more.

Together with its first-round choose, Boston will enter the offseason with $231 million in wage and a $263 million tax penalty. For each $3 million spent on a participant, it can price the staff $25 million in extra tax penalties. The Celtics are at the moment $22 million over the second apron.

For that motive, NBA insiders have heard proposals for the Celtics to get off the contracts of gamers like Jrue Vacation, Sam Hauser, and Kristaps Porzingis. However some have even talked about the potential of Boston buying and selling four-time All-Star guard Jaylen Brown.

Boston Might Retain Each Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown

The Celtics might additionally reduce prices whereas holding the inspiration in place — retaining Tatum, Derrick White, and Brown — for an opportunity to compete subsequent season. It ought to be famous that Tatum, Brown, and White are all below contract via not less than the 2028-29 season.

If Boston takes that route, Porzingis, Hauser, and probably Vacation could possibly be moved. By buying and selling Porzingis’ expiring $30.7 million contract, the Celtics would drop beneath the second apron, per Marks.

Though the Brooklyn Nets are the one staff with a large quantity of cap house for Porzingis’ wage, there’s additionally the choice of buying and selling Porzingis and taking again $22 million in contracts. That choice doesn’t drop Boston beneath the second apron, however it could assist scale back wage.

Buying and selling Hauser additionally doesn’t drop Boston beneath the second apron, but it surely does save $80 million in luxurious tax penalties subsequent season. Hauser is getting into the primary 12 months of a four-year, $44 million extension he signed final July.

As well as, one other risk is the Celtics resetting the roster round Tatum and White. Boston might commerce Brown for a package deal of draft picks, younger gamers, and expiring contracts. Brown has 4 years and $236 million left on his contract.

Jayson Tatum Stays Celtics’ Greatest Participant

Based on Basketball Reference, Tatum led the Celtics in factors, rebounds, and assists throughout final season’s run to the staff’s record-breaking 18th NBA championship.

Per NBA.com, Tatum has additionally performed in additional video games than any participant within the league since he was drafted, in addition to gained gold medals with Workforce USA on the Tokyo and Paris Olympics.

Plus, Tatum’s second solely to LeBron James in complete playoff factors scored via the age of 27, and he ranks thirty fourth on the NBA’s all-time playoff scoring listing.

Extra importantly, the Celtics had been plus-8.7 factors per 100 possessions this season when Tatum was off the court docket.

His 42-point outing in Sport 4 in opposition to the Knicks was additionally the fifth time in his profession he has scored not less than 40 in a playoff recreation, tying him with Corridor of Famers Larry Hen and John Havlicek for essentially the most in Celtics historical past.

Tatum May Not Be The Similar Participant Once more

Guess what? None of these stats and information above matter, particularly contemplating Tatum isn’t anticipated to be again on the court docket for eight to 9 months. Nobody is aware of for certain if Tatum will be capable of common 30-plus factors per recreation in a full season ever once more.

Tatum is simply 27 years previous, and there have been medical developments within the remedy of Achilles’ accidents over the previous decade. However even when he comes again robust, there’s no telling how he’ll carry out in future playoff collection.

This comes again to the purpose that coaches and teammates can not educate a famous person how you can be clutch. Tatum’s inconsistencies within the playoffs are inexcusable for such an amazing participant.

Tatum has been known as nothing greater than a “Kyle Kuzma with aura” on social media. That is perhaps a little bit of a stretch, however all of us must admit that it’s a humorous remark.

As a substitute of buying and selling Brown, the Celtics ought to transfer Tatum this summer time.

At the beginning, Brown was the NBA Finals MVP in 2024, not Tatum.

Despite the fact that Tatum was simply named to a fourth All-NBA First Workforce, he disappears each time Boston wants him essentially the most within the postseason. Some followers may name {that a} scorching take for a number of logical causes.

Nonetheless, it was Brown who led Boston to that title win in opposition to a Luka Doncic-led Mavs squad.

Celtics Went 8-2 With out Tatum Throughout The Common Season

The Celtics went 8-2 with out Tatum throughout the common season, however simply 2-2 in opposition to playoff groups. Boston additionally remained constant offensively with him on the bench, outscoring opponents by simply 2 factors per 100 possessions fewer than they did with him on the ground.

Per Spotrac, Tatum’s five-year, $313.93 million extension will start within the 2025-26 season and maintain the five-time All-Star in Boston via the 2029-30 season. His deal consists of an estimated $71.44 million participant choice for 2029-30.

Whereas Tatum just isn’t overrated per se, he’s positively overpaid come time to clutch-time playoff moments. That time remains to be up for debate, however let’s be sincere, everybody’s anticipating extra from a star participant within the postseason.

In the meantime, Brown’s had his struggles, too, taking pictures a playoff career-low 44.1% from the sphere and 33.3% from 3-point territory whereas committing a playoff-career-high 3.5 turnovers per recreation.

Throughout the common season, Brown additionally averaged 22.2 factors per recreation, his lowest mark since 2019-20. He was restricted by foul hassle Monday and dedicated 4 turnovers in 32 minutes.

However maybe Brown deserves the good thing about the doubt for being the reigning Finals MVP.

Palms down, Tatum is the higher total participant within the common season, however Brown all the time appears to rise to the event within the playoffs.

An Injured Tatum Provides Restricted Worth For GMs

Simply because the Celtics ought to commerce Tatum to assist their cap state of affairs doesn’t imply they are going to be capable of.

Opposing common managers must be keen to pay full value with out realizing if the Celtics famous person will ever be the identical once more. That appears not possible.

Buying and selling Jayson Tatum for Giannis Antetokounmpo is one transfer Boston ought to contemplate.

One other risk is the Milwaukee Bucks sending Antetokounmpo to Beantown for a number of first-round picks, Jaylen Brown, and some function gamers in return.

Both means, the Celtics can be dropping key function gamers whereas taking an enormous danger buying and selling both Tatum or Brown.