The Boston Celtics are heading into the 2023 playoffs following a season filled with success and some drama following the dismissal of Ime Udoka. The Celtics blossomed into the best team in the Eastern Conference thanks to their core of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Al Horford, Robert Williams, and Marcus Smart last year under rookie head coach Ime Udoka. Even with Udoka gone, the Celtics are once again in the mix for the championship, and the Eastern Conference is on notice because the reigning NBA Finalists are coming to win the NBA title. The growth of Jayson Tatum into an MVP candidate and Jaylen Brown into an All-NBA performer, along with the addition of Malcolm Brogdon, has done wonders for this side.
But there remain a few major questions relating to how the team will look for the long-term because they will need to see if they want to go fully forward with Jayston Tatum and Jaylen Brown as the franchise cornerstones. This was thrown in doubt when Brown was dangled in the Kevin Durant sweepstakes, but the Nets did not bite. Not to mention, will the Celtics try to acquire a third All-Star to join Tatum and Brown? Clearly, the Celtics need to see how the championship core looks this upcoming season before making a long-term decision. The aforementioned questions could be important for the 2023 offseason because right now, the core is fixed for next year, and they got the job done last year by making the Finals.
Perhaps most importantly, what does the Celtics’ future currently look like? Amazingly, the Celtics have the fourth-highest payroll in the NBA this year and have two players making over $30 million per season. It is time to look at the Boston Celtics’ salary cap situation in the 2023-24 season and deduce how they can plan their attack to win a championship next year. Similar to what we did when we analyzed the Golden State Warriors salary cap in 2024, the Boston Celtics’ situation could be a little bit more complex because of how things might play out regarding their star duo. By utilizing a mix of attracting free agents, re-signing talented players, and letting some others go, here is how title-contending Celtics can plan their 2024 NBA season.
Celtics Players Under Salaries
Jayson Tatum – $32,600,060
Jaylen Brown – $30,723,214
Malcolm Brogdon – $22,500,000
Marcus Smart – $18,583,713
Derrick White – $18,107,143
Robert Williams – $11,794,644
Al Horford – $10,000,000
Luke Kornet – $2,413,304
Sam Hauser – $1,927,896
Demetrius Jackson – $92,857
Jayson Tatum is the best player on the team, making over $32 million per season until the end of the 2026 season, when the player has a player option worth over $37 million. That means the Celtics have arguably a top-five player in the world for another three seasons after this one, so their championship window is not closing anytime soon. At only 25 years old, Tatum is one of the best scorers in the NBA and is only getting better in terms of all-around impact. Tatum had a frustrating Finals series last year when he posted 21.5 PPG on 36.7% FG, but he has since turned it up by coming back this year as a top-five MVP candidate.
Meanwhile, Jaylen Brown had another All-Star campaign by averaging 27.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG, and 3.4 APG through 63 games this season. Brown has become one of the top 20 players in the world and has formed a great partnership with Tatum. Jayson is the more skilled player, but perhaps every Celtics fan will prefer the ball in Jaylen’s hands when the going gets tough because he is as clutch as they come. Unfortunately, while Tatum seems to be a Celtic for life, Jaylen might not be.
Brown has made it clear that he wants to feel wanted by the Boston franchise and is so far uncertain about his future with the franchise. Being involved in trade rumors all year despite being one of the best players in the league is strange, but the player himself should understand that a player of Kevin Durant’s natural skill and ability does not come around often, if at all. The Celtics have Brown under contract for 2024 but will be a free agent after that. We will dive into Brown’s situation a little deeper, but he will be on the team next year even if he might leave if he does not get selected to an All-NBA Team selection at the end of the season.
The rest of the Boston Celtics starters and key role players are eating up the bulk of Boston’s cap space. Unlike other teams, there is a ton of money paid for starters, including the newly acquired Malcolm Brogdon, last year’s Defensive Player of the Year, Marcus Smart, defensive stalwart Al Horford, and backup combo guard Derrick White. Robert Williams is on a team-friendly contract as his injury history is questionable, and the remaining players under contract are bench players who won’t appear much in the playoffs.
Malcolm Brogdon had another strong season in 2022, posting 19.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG, and 5.9 APG on 44.8% shooting from the field, 31.2% from three, and 85.6% from the line. Malcolm proved to be an efficient scorer and passer while also not letting up on defense and will be a key piece for the Celtics as he was acquired before the season. Marcus Smart signed a long-term deal last year that will pay him until the 2026 season. He had the best season of his career in 2022, winning the Defensive Player of the Year award and becoming the second point guard of all time to do so. Smart is the third-best player on the team and is on a friendly deal, although he is getting paid quite well. The guard will be shifted over to the shooting guard spot to make room for Malcolm Brogdon because Smart is best suited for post-ups, spot-up threes, and being the primary defender instead of being a playmaker.
Derrick White is extremely highly paid for a 6th man who only averaged 11.0 PPG in the regular season through 26 games with the Boston Celtics last year. He was acquired before the trade deadline from the San Antonio Spurs and also averaged 8.5 PPG for the Celtics in the playoffs. By far, the best player on the team on the friendliest contract is Robert Williams, a center with elite hops and athleticism that he uses to defend the rim. A shot-blocker and rebounder, Williams was invaluable for Boston last year despite being in and out of the lineup due to injury. His talent is there to be witnessed, but Williams will be paid under $14 million a season until 2026, even if he is strong enough to start for the Celtics on most occasions.
Meanwhile, an active big man who does his job on a high level, Al Horford is a stout defender who can rebound and will be a critical player in the Celtics’ system. Al is no longer an All-Star player when looking at his stats, but he sets picks, plays solid defense, and knows what the offensive plays will entail in terms of rolling to the basket or spotting up for three. Horford has also built up chemistry with Tatum and Brown and will be needed in this year’s postseason run. Al has two years left at $10,000,000 per season, so that seems like a good deal for an aging big man who is currently 36 years old. Luke Kornet, Sam Hauser, and Demetrius Jackson are decent players to play regular-season minutes and fill out the bench, with the former two acting as solid stretch players.
Overall, the money is tied up next year for the two best players on the team, while key players such as Brogdon, Smart, White, and Horford are making decent money as well. It is clear what the Celtics’ core is made up of, and they are going all-in with the team that is very talented and made the NBA Finals last year.
Player Option
Danilo Gallinari – $6,802,950
Danilo Gallinari is past his best and is also dealing with a never-ending injury list as well, so his appearances should rarely come next year in terms of the regular season. The forward can stroke the three, but he has to stay healthy to be effective. Nonetheless, the Italian forward is making under $7 million and has a player option for 2024. Considering how often Gallinari has been injured (four seasons of at least 60 games played sgladly2015), he will gladly take his player option and hope to return to the court for the Celtics next season unless the franchise opts for a sign-and-trade.
Team Options
Grant Williams – $6,235,494 (Qualifying Offer)
Payton Pritchard – $4,037,277
Mike Muscala – $3,500,000
JD Davidson – $1,761,752 (Qualifying Offer)
Mfiondu Kabengele – $1,761,752 (Qualifying Offer)
Boston also has four players with team options attached to them, meaning the Celtics have a little bit of flexibility in the 2024 season, although not much. Grant Williams is a critical role player because he brings energy and a consistent three-point shot as a backup forward and will be a long-term Celtics player considering he will likely be on the team in 2023 and 2024 when the qualifying offer is extended to him. Hopefully, Grant Williams can be extended long-term because he is a “PJ Tucker” type of player that every championship team needs.
Another interesting name off the bench on a team option is Payton Pritchard. He is already a decent backup point guard because he can make deep three-pointers and has a hustle mentality. At 6’1” and 195 lbs, Pritchard lacks the size to be a full-time starter, but if he can come in and heat up and hustle for loose balls, he is already an advantage to the Celtics at a contract that pays under $5 million next year.
Mike Muscala was brought in before the trade deadline, and he is a very good shooter for his size. Shooting is key in the NBA, and the center is posting 5.9 PPG and 3.1 RPG this season (39.5% 3-PT FG) which could work for under $4,000,000 next season if he is picked up. Davidson and Kabengele are benchwarmers, and it won’t affect the Celtics much if the qualifying offers are extended to them.
Free Agent
Blake Griffin
Blake Griffin, a former 6-time All-Star, is certainly past his best. Griffin was picked up by the Brooklyn Nets over the past few seasons to bring playoff experience and basketball IQ, but that experiment failed because of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving’s poor leadership skills. The Celtics signed Griffin this year, and the forward has posted 4.3 PPG and 3.7 RPG in 35 appearances. If Boston feels Blake can add to the dressing room camaraderie, he could be back on a veteran’s minimum deal.
Celtics Currently Have $144 Million For Salaries In 2023-24 Season
The Boston Celtics have a total of approximately $144 million in salaries for the 2023-2024 season that is fixed. That is a very high number considering that there are only two All-Star players that are getting paid most of the money and will be the championship core going forward. Of course, the number could get over $155 million if they offer qualifying offers to role players, including Grant Williams, Payton Pritchard, and Mike Muscala, and if Danilo Gallinari accepts his player option.
Remember, the salary cap for the NBA season will likely rise to $134 million and $162 million on a tax level, which is record-breaking. With this amount of extra money being afforded to the Celtics, the flexibility for the Celtics to keep their key players is very possible. Boston is clearly going all-in for the title in 2023 and over the next few years, so they should have no problem going over the luxury tax if it means boosting the Celtics’ status above the likes of the Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Philadelphia 76ers in their own conference.
Even so, the Celtics have a ton to think about when it comes to their long-term future. For one, will Jaylen Brown be happy to be back? Jayson Tatum said it himself the best, the team absolutely needs Jaylen at his best. Perhaps Brown does not want to be underrated anymore, and if he does not make an All-NBA Team this year, he could be looking for a chance to be the main man on a team. Remember, that did not work out for Kyrie Irving, one of the greatest offensive players ever, so what makes it sure that it will for Brown? The duo of Tatum and Brown must not be split up, and the Celtics need to make it clear to the player, even if a superstar like Kevin Durant becomes available again.
Next, will Boston retain Al Horford on a team-friendly deal over the next 2 or 3 years? He will likely prefer to stay with Boston because the fans love him, and he truly belongs there, considering his clutch performances last year. He is on the books until 2025, so that might be enough for an older player. Next, will Boston trade the likes of Derrick White or Marcus Smart before or during next season? That could depend if the Celtics make another Finals run, and they might want to keep the core if they win another championship or at least get close again next year. Smart is the defensive leader of the team, but he could be packaged if another All-Star becomes available. Similarly, White is overpaid for a bench player, and Boston could find a way to move him to clear up cap space.
Next, will Boston have to find a long-term option for the center position? Other than Horford, who is almost 37 years old, Robert Williams has not been able to stay healthy. Should the franchise focus on acquiring an All-Star big man as a result? They might also want to move on from Danilo Gallinari because he is past his best and unable to stay healthy, and his nearly $7 million salary might be unnecessary. Grant Williams, meanwhile, is a perfect role player, and he should be tied down to a long-term deal if the Celtics are convinced he will continue to improve.
Overall, Boston is right back in the mix for the NBA championship next year because they have two All-Star players and capable role players who bring it on both ends of the floor. The stars and Robert Williams are all on team-friendly contracts next year and will be motivated to prove their worth. If the Celtics win a title or make the NBA Finals this year, the same faces will be back, and that is a guarantee.
But if Boston fails to meet the playoff expectations, they will have to see if Malcolm Brogdon is the long-term answer for the Celtics because he is making over $22 million until the 2025 season, along with Marcus Smart and Derrick White. How they proceed with keeping Jaylen Brown is the biggest part of Boston’s upcoming offseason because if they can sell an NBA Finals appearance or championship, he could be convinced. Otherwise, failing to make an All-NBA Team and falling short of the Eastern Conference Finals could be the final evidence that Brown needs to be a star somewhere else to spread his wings. It will be very interesting to see how the Boston Celtics do in the playoffs over the next few weeks because their future depends on their success.
