The Boston Celtics are one of the few teams in the league with a nearly flawless roster. However, as they mount a bid to repeat as NBA champions this year, recent rumors suggest this could be the last time we see this version of the roster.
“They’re going to have to trade some guys at some point,” wrote Jake Fischer. “The two major salaries that league figures are monitoring in possible future trades: Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday.”
At 54-19, second in the East, the Celtics are on track for another stellar season, but the price is steep. After longtime owner Wyc Grousbeck sold his majority share, there has been increasing uncertainty about their willingness to keep this lucrative, star-studded roster together.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will make a combined $87.2 million this season, but it’s only just the start of the Celtics’ massive payroll, which ranks as the third-highest in the NBA at $195.6 million. That number is only set to rise next season with an increase in pay for virtually every player.
Experts are convinced that they will look to bring down their payroll at some point before next season, and two Celtics in particular are likely to get moved.
The first is sharpshooting big man Kristaps Porzingis, who joined the team back in 2023. He was huge in their title win last year, and he’s been solid for them again in this campaign with averages of 19.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game on 48.9% shooting.
Porzingis is a great offensive weapon for the Celtics, and his ability to stretch the floor opens up a lot of space for Tatum and Brown. Unfortunately, he’s also set to make $30.7 million next season.
The Celtics traded for Holiday a few years back, and while his scoring hasn’t been amazing, he’s been a steady force on defense with averages of 10.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game on 44.0% shooting this season.
Holiday is a two-time champion and a top-tier professional, but his contract is also less than ideal for Boston. Over the next four years, he’s set to make a combined $133 million. His $37.2 million player option won’t kick in until 2027, when Jrue is 36 years old.
Ideally, the Celtics wouldn’t trade either player, but it’s either them or Derrick White, who has emerged as Boston’s third-best player. White is on a team-friendly deal worth $144 million, and he’s having a career year with averages of 16.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game on 44.2% shooting.
This summer, the Celtics will have some big decisions to make on the future of their roster. While Tatum and Brown are untouchable, everyone else may be up for grabs, and it could make things very interesting in the months to come.
That’s why it’s important for the Cs to maximize their team this season and make another Finals run before they lose an important member of the group. It’s now or never for the Celtics and you can bet they’ll be doing everything they can to maximize their title window.
Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.
