The Boston Celtics are on a dominant run this season, positioning themselves as favorites to defend their championship in June. At 54-19, the Celtics have won seven straight games and continue to establish themselves as the most complete team in the NBA.
Boston’s success has been fueled by its balanced roster, featuring an elite starting five of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Derrick White, along with a strong second unit that includes Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, and veteran Al Horford. However, despite the team’s depth, financial decisions may force the Celtics to shake up their roster in the offseason.
After being sold to Bill Chisholm for $6.1 billion, the Celtics remain a second-apron team, meaning they face luxury tax penalties if they don’t manage their salaries.
According to NBA Insider Jake Fischer, the Celtics may eventually have to trade someone in the off-season, with Porzingis and Holiday emerging as top names to keep an eye on.
“‘They’re going to have to trade some guys at some point,’ one team capologist told The Stein Line. T”he two major salaries that league figures are monitoring in possible future trades: Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday.”
Porzingis is entering the final year of his contract, set to pay him $30 million next season, and trading him for a player with a minimum two-year deal could save the Celtics $218 million in luxury tax. Holiday, meanwhile, is owed $104 million over the next three seasons, and with Derrick White and Payton Pritchard emerging as capable replacements, Boston may consider moving him to balance the books.
While the Celtics’ immediate focus is on winning another title, their long-term future remains uncertain. It will be interesting to see how new ownership navigates these financial decisions in the offseason.
