The Boston Celtics made many tough decisions during the offseason after the injury to the New York Knicks and Jayson Tatum’s Achilles.
Celtics are expected to have $500 million in salary in 2025-26
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the Celtics are expected to double their $240 million salary with their salary this season, thus finding out a second apron again.
Boston, which includes a first-round draft pick, will enter the offseason with a salary of $231 million and a tax of $263 million. Every $3 million spent on a player, which would cost the team $25 million in additional tax penalty. The Celtics are currently $22 million in their second apron.
So, NBA insiders listened to the Celtics’ proposal to lift the contracts of players like Jrue Holiday, Sam Hauser and Kristaps Porzingis. But some even mentioned the possibility of Boston trading four-time All-Star guard Jaylen Brown.
Boston can keep Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown
The Celtics can also cut costs while keeping the foundation in place (retaining Tatum, Derek White and Brown) for a chance to play next season. It should be noted that Tatum, Brown and White are all contracted for at least the 2028-29 season.
If Boston takes this route, Porzingis, Hauser and possible holidays will be moved. By trading Porzingis’ contract with $30.7 million expiring, the Celtics will drop below the second apron.
Although the Brooklyn Nets are the only team with a lot of cap space, there is also an option to trade porzingis and get back a $22 million contract. This option doesn’t put Boston under the second apron, but can help lower wages.
Trade Hauser isn’t going to put Boston under a second apron, either, but it does save $80 million in luxury tax penalty next season. Hauser entered the first year of a four-year signing in July last year, a $44 million extension.
Furthermore, another possibility is that the Celtic resets the roster around Tatum and white. Boston could trade Browns for a package of draft picks, young players and expiring contracts. Brown has four years left on his contract, with $236 million left.
Jayson Tatum remains the best player for the Celtics
According to basketball reference, Tatum led the Celtics with a record No. 18 NBA title last season to score, rebounds and assists.
According to NBA.com, Tatum has also played more games since he played than any player in the league and has won gold medals with Team USA at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics.
In addition, Tatum is second only to LeBron James in the 27-year-old playoff total, and he ranks 34th in the NBA’s all-time playoff scoreboard.
More importantly, the Celtics have 8.7 points per 100 seasons this season.
His 42 points against the Knicks in Game 4 is also the fifth time in his career, with at least 40 points in the playoff game, and he tied for the most in Celtics history with Hall of Famers Larry Bird and John Havlicek.
Tatum may be the same player again
Guess what? Neither these statistics nor records matter, especially considering that Tatum won’t go back to eight to nine months. No one knows whether Tatum can average 30 points per game throughout the season.
Tatum, who is only 27 years old, has made progress in treating Achilles’ injuries over the past decade. But even if he gets strong, there is no mention of how he will perform in future playoff series.
This is back to the point where coaches and teammates can’t teach superstars how to get clutched. For such a great player, Tatum’s inconsistency in the playoffs is unforgivable.
Tatum is called “Kyle Kuzma and Aura“On social media. It may be a little difficult, but we all have to admit it’s an interesting comment.”
The Celtics should move Tatum this summer instead of trading Brown.
First, Brown is the 2024 NBA Finals MVP, not Tatum.
Even though Tatum has just been named the All-NBA No. 1 team, he disappears whenever Boston needs him the most in the playoffs. Some fans might call this for a number of logical reasons.
Nevertheless, it was Brown who led Boston to defeat the Mavericks led by Luca Donko.
The Celtics are 8-2 in the regular season without Tatum
In the regular season, the Celtics didn’t have Tatum with 8-2, but only 2-2 in the playoffs. Boston also had his offensive end on the bench, shooting 2 points less than his 100 fewer field goals on the floor.
Tatum’s five-year, $313.93 million extension will begin in the 2025-26 season and hold five All-Star games in the 2029-30 season. His deal includes an estimated $71.44 million player option for 2029-30.
Although Tatum itself is not overrated, it is certainly time for him to pay the time to catch the playoffs. This is still a debate, but honestly everyone wants more expectations for star players in the playoffs.
Meanwhile, Brown struggled, scoring a playoff career low of 44.1% in the playoffs and 33.3% hits from 3-point territory in the playoffs of the highest 3.5 turnovers per game.
In the regular season, Brown scored 22.2 points in the lowest field goal since 2019-20 years. He was restricted by foul trouble on Monday and made four turnovers in 32 minutes.
But maybe Brown deserves the benefits of being the dominant finals MVP.
Tatum is the best overall player in the regular season, but Brown always seems to be joining the playoffs.
Injured Tatum offers limited value to GMS
Just because the Celtics should trade tatums to help their cap situation doesn’t mean they will be able to do it.
The opposing general manager must be willing to pay the full price without knowing whether the Celtic superstar will be the same again. This seems unlikely.
Boston should consider trading Jayson Tatum to Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Another possibility is that the Milwaukee Bucks sent the Antitokons to Beantown for multiple first-round picks, Jaylen Brown and some role-players to pay off.
Either way, the Celtics lose key role players while making huge risk trades Tatum or Brown.
