Brace yourself, Celtics fans: Franchise-altering trades could be just around the corner.
Boston stunned the basketball world this week when it reportedly dealt Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers and Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks. The details of the two trades — including compensation and financial ramifications — are complicated but the most important thing is the Celtics now are under the second apron, the NBA’s crippling salary cap threshold.
And Brad Stevens might not be done dealing.
During a Tuesday night appearance on “SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt”, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported the Celtics were fielding trade calls on two of their three remaining stars.
“The phone lines are ringing in Boston,” Charania said. “My understanding is the Celtics are getting offers (and) calls on both Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. The Celtics have high price thresholds for both players. We know how great Jaylen Brown and Derrick White are.
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“So, I’m sure they’re getting some massive offers, some pretty big-time calls as well. Their preference has been to keep both players. But this is a team that’s still in the first apron, still a luxury-tax team, still dealing with the uncertainty of Jayson Tatum’s status next season.”
Charania then indicated the Celtics could trade Anfernee Simons, who was acquired in the Holiday trade, and/or Sam Hauser.
“At minimum, I expect Sam Hauser (and) Anfernee Simons (will be) discussed. Will a team match that price threshold that, I’m told, the Celtics have set around the league for Jaylen Brown or Derrick White to be able to get them? They are listening, but will a team get there?”
Charania added: “Just in the span of the last two days … they’ve shed 180 million dollars in luxury-tax savings. They’ve gotten out of the second apron. But with a season next year full of uncertainty, just how much do they want to get out of these aprons and the taxes?”
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How this story ends remains to be seen. All options, from completely nuking the roster to retooling it with an eye toward competing in 2026, seemingly are on the table.
Still, one way or another, all signs point toward the Celtics looking very different next season.
