Celtics Reportedly Expected to Explore Trades, Roster Changes in 2025 NBA Free Agency

The 2024-25 postseason may be the last ride for the Boston Celtics, at least with this current roster configuration.

As ESPN's Shams Charania noted during an appeared on Thursday's The Pat McAfee Show, the Celtics may be forced to make some changes from a financial perspective:

"I can tell you, the rest of the league is bracing for some level of change to come to the Celtics roster this offseason. Sources have been telling me for weeks now that the Celtics will be exploring trade options in the offseason. This iteration is just not going to be sustainable for this team. And no one around the organization, from players to staffers, would be surprised if there are changes coming to this roster. When you think about the new collective bargaining agreement, there are restrictions that come with trades, there are restrictions that come with giving up draft picks, that's all stuff that they're dealing with right now. They have five players right now scheduled to make $28 million or more next season. That's a league record. They would have a salary bill of $500 million. That's league history. I think the Celtics knew when they traded for Jrue Holiday, they traded for Kristaps Porziņģis, they'd be staring this in the face this summer."

There's basically no way the Celtics will part with either Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown, barring one of them pushing heavily for a trade, so there's little point discussing either when it comes to a potential roster rework.

Nobody else in Boston is untouchable, however.

There's a pretty strong argument to be made that the Celtics should try to keep Derrick White at all costs. He's four years younger than Jrue Holiday, less injury prone than Kristaps Porziņģis and was Boston's third-best player in the first-round series against the Orlando Magic, averaging 17.2, 4.8 assists, 4.8 rebounds and a steal per game. He's also due to make less next season ($28.1 million) than both Holiday ($32.4 million) and Porziņģis ($30.7 million).

He may also be the player other teams would most covet of that trio, however.

There's no doubt that Porziņģis is talented and impactful when healthy, but staying on the court has remained a struggle. He'll also be a free agent following the 2025-26 season, and expiring contracts are generally easier to move. Teams hoping to accumulate cap space for the 2026 offseason might be willing to take him on.

Holiday, meanwhile, remains an excellent defensive player, but his contract—he has two years remaining alongside a $37.2 million player option in 2027-28—might be a bit less ideal for teams to take on. On the other hand, his game should age pretty well, predicated on defense and playmaking, and other contenders might be interested in his services.

NBA reporter Jake Fischer reported in March that "league figures" were monitoring Porziņģis and Holiday entering this summer as players who could potentially be moved. Obviously, the trade market will dictate that process, but it wouldn't be surprising in the slightest if neither player remained in Boston beyond this summer.