In the immediate aftermath of a flurry of trades and bite-sized free agent signing, one thing is clear for the 2025 Celtics roster: it’s not a finished product.
The first piece of evidence regarding the Celtics’ work-in-progress is purely financial. It’s obvious Boston doesn’t want to live another season in the NBA’s second tax apron – a punishing line set by the updated collective bargaining agreement that took effect two summers ago.
“You can’t stay in the second apron,” Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck told WEEI’s “Greg Hill Show” earlier this year, with the Celtics’ sale on the horizon. “Nobody will, I predict, for the next 40 years of the CBA, no one is going to stay in the second apron more than two years.”
Unless pending owner Bill Chisholm wants to take a radically different approach to the CBA, the second apron should function as a hard cap for this year’s roster. The financial approach becomes even clearer in the wake of superstar Jayson Tatum’s achilles injury. It’s likely to keep him out for the bulk – if not the entirety – of next season. It will be difficult for the Celtics to contend without Tatum, and likely becomes a year to avoid not only the new apron, but also the penalties of the repeater tax.
This is a reality check for the rest of the league, not just Boston. Shedding salaries will become the hangover NBA teams will have to endure following championship champagne spending under the new CBA.
President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens’ early offseason activities dipped Boston below the second apron, but his moves in free agency actually bumped spending back slightly above that threshold. Further tweaking is on the way.
Basketball-wise, Boston’s roster appears very unbalanced. Trading Kristaps Porzingis and losing Luke Kornet to San Antonio in free agency has left an enormous void in the front court. Al Horford has yet to announce a decision on his next destination, but his age (39) and projected value don’t necessarily align with the Celtics right now. Horford may be looking at both his final contract and last chance at another ring. The acquisition of center Luka Garza is intriguing, but probably not the solution for a starting center. The Celtics are left with Neemias Queta and Xavier Tillman as starting options. Both players were previously depth pieces, with Queta graduating from a two-way contract just over the last year.
Finally, there’s the reality of how much time there is left in the NBA offseason. An examination of Stevens’ past moves is a reminder that while he’s very methodical as a team architect, he’s shown a balance of patience and striking while the iron’s hot. Two summers ago, point guard Damien Lillard appeared to be the big trade chip. Boston looked like an obvious destination. The Celtics had dealt Marcus Smart in a deal for Porzingis. But Lillard wanted to be in Miami, and ended up Milwaukee, instead. The ripple effects of that deal landed Jrue Holiday in Boston, via a trade that sent out Robert Williams and Malcolm Brogdon.
Here’s a reminder: Stevens didn’t do that trade until October 1, 2023.
This is not to suggest the Celtics’ front office can wait around for Jrue Holidays to fall out of the sky. Boston’s financial priorities will make All-Star level moves very challenging. However, there are several weeks left in the offseason. More dominoes will fall.
The Boston Celtics’ summer has been dramatic, but it’s also not over yet.