Celtics Should Eye Trades If They Fail to Repeat as Champions Amid NBA Rumors

The defending NBA champion Boston Celtics are once again one of the elite teams in the league, with a real opportunity to repeat come June.

They have one of the most complete squads in the game, touting the eight-highest scoring offense and No. 1 three-point shooting unit, and are also defensively sound, ranking fifth in blocks and eighth in rebounds.

They are also poised to have the highest payroll in the NBA next season, potentially reaching $500 million between the roster and luxury tax penalties, making it all the more imperative that the team, as it is currently constructed, wins now.

This is especially true with a new ownership group coming in and no evidence that they will be as comfortable assuming the financial commitment as it currently stands.

Jake Fischer of The Stein Line noted speculation from NBA insiders that, short of a second championship, the team will have to make some trades to free up cap space.

Fischer wrote, "The two major salaries that league figures are monitoring in possible future trades: Kristaps Porziņģis and Jrue Holiday."

Holiday is a $34.2 million cap hit in 2025-26 and Porzingis carries a $30 million hit.

Fischer also noted that Derrick White may have more value, but the team is unlikely to move him, especially after signing him to a four-year extension in July 2024. Star, foundational players Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum are not expected to go anywhere.

Fischer wrote:

"Several league figures with knowledge of Boston's thinking have remained adamant about Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown continuing to be the unquestioned on-court pillars of this franchise … despite the wishful thinking from some teams out there that Brown would somehow be made available this summer. And if the Celtics are able to go back-to-back during the forthcoming playoff tournament, it figures to be even more of a moot point."

While it is understandable that the organization would not be looking to completely blow up the team by trading away either of its pillars in Tatum and Brown, and would want to keep a player in White who they believed would be important enough to their long-term championship aspirations to ink him for another four years, the team would be right to explore potential deals for Porziņģis and/or Holiday if the team fails to go back-to-back.

Porziņģis is averaging 19.7 points, seven rebounds, and two assists, and is shooting 48.9 percent from the floor and 40.3 percent from beyond the arc in 28.9 minutes per night.

Holiday is averaging 10.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and is shooting 44 percent from the floor and 33.5 percent from three-point land. He is also the oldest of the group and

Both are quality veterans with championship experience who contending teams would love to bring on board and pair with their budding superstars or core players to make a run at a title.

Boston could free up cap space and potentially get a less expensive role player in return or even some draft capital. The organization could use either to retool its roster, building it around Tatum, Brown, and White, in pursuit of another title if this year's squad does not make it two in a row.

Even if it does, for the sake of the organization and the long-term success of the team while this crucial championship window is open, it would be best suited to explore trade partners, relieve some of the financial burden it has put on itself with contractual situations, and find more affordable, similarly effective players to fill key spots for next season.