The Boston Celtics face a crucial offseason in 2025.
Boston's roster and financial situation are under intense scrutiny at the moment.
After an Eastern Conference Semifinals exit to the New York Knicks, the Celtics are grappling with a massive payroll and the absence of star Jayson Tatum, set to be sidelined for most, if not all, of the 2025-26 season due to a torn Achilles.
Boston’s front office, led by Brad Stevens, is expected to make strategic moves to maintain competitiveness while addressing the NBA’s stringent second apron restrictions.
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The Celtics are reportedly exploring ways to shed salary without dismantling all of their core. Their No. 28 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, scheduled for June 25 in Brooklyn, could play a key role in these efforts, as noted by Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz.
"The Boston Celtics are in a weird spot as they attempt to navigate the 2025-26 season without Jayson Tatum," Swartz wrote.
"Whether this team still tries to attempt a playoff run or pulls off a mini-reset, it should want to duck the second apron, a line it's currently $22.7 million above. Assuming Boston wants to keep Jaylen Brown, it will likely look to move Jrue Holiday ($32.4 million) or Kristaps Porziņģis ($30.7 million) as a way to cut salary. Doing so may involve some draft equity."
"Don’t be surprised to see the Celtics dangle the No. 28 overall pick in a potential trade to move off of Holiday or Porziņģis, possibly to the cap-happy Brooklyn Nets, who could then attempt to flip the veteran for additional pieces."
The Brooklyn Nets, with a ton of projected cap space, are an ideal trade partner for the Celtics right now. They could absorb a high-salary contract like Jrue Holiday’s or Kristaps Porziņģis’s without sending back significant salary, helping Boston duck the second apron.
The No. 28 pick would be a valuable asset for a rebuilding team already holding five picks in the first round. Brooklyn might then flip Holiday or Porziņģis -- along with some of these picks -- for additional assets or to move up in the draft.
For Boston, trading the No. 28 pick could sweeten a deal to offload salary while preserving their core of Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. The Celtics have a history of finding value late in the first round, with players like Payton Pritchard (No. 26, 2020) and Robert Williams (No. 27, 2018), but their immediate need is financial flexibility.
A trade with the Nets could provide a short-term cap solution and allow Boston to pursue cost-effective free agents or additional draft picks in future years, such as their controlled 2026 and 2027 first-rounders.
While moving Holiday or Porziņģis would weaken Boston’s 2025-26 roster, it could prevent harsher penalties under the new CBA.
As the draft approaches, all eyes will be on whether Boston pulls the trigger on such a deal.
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