A Trade Idea for Every Realistic Boston Celtics Target
The Boston Celtics' effort to stave off elimination without Jayson Tatum in Game 5 was impressive, but they had no answers for the New York Knicks in Game 6.
Boston lost, 119-81. The season is over. With Tatum likely out for all of next season, and the Celtics set to bring one of the league's most expensive rosters into 2025-26, it's time to start speculating about teardown-style trades.
Does Boston really want to be a second-apron team fighting for a play-in spot? Just ask the Phoenix Suns and their fans how that feels.
No, that approach may not be the best. Instead, the Celtics can take a gap year while Tatum recovers, flip some of their longer-term salary and emerge for 2026-27 with a retooled roster around their superstar.
This isn't to suggest Boston can or should unload everyone, but you'll find realistic trade packages for every 2025-26 Celtic making over $3 million and not named Tatum below. Heck, you might even see a pie-in-the-sky idea for Tatum, too.
*Note that trades involving the Celtics combining outgoing salaries are not possible without Boston first ducking the second apron. It's currently projected to be nearly $20 million over that line.
The Second Apron-Ducking Jaylen Brown Trade
1 of 7
Jaylen Brown for Cam Thomas (sign-and-trade), Noah Clowney, the No. 8 pick in 2025, a 2027 first-round pick (via Philadelphia) and a top-5 protected 2031 first-round pick
A primary purpose of this move would be to push Boston's salary under the second-apron line, which would make it possible for them to aggregate outgoing salaries in other deals.
The Brooklyn Nets are a prime candidate for such a move, since they can realistically get to over $50 million in cap space this summer and absorb much of Jaylen Brown's $53.1 million salary into that space.
Of course, it helps to pick up multiple first-round picks, too. And getting Brown in his prime would be worth that (though the Brooklyn Nets might insist on more protections).
He'd be a building block-level talent for a Nets team that could be desperate to have one after failing to secure a top-four pick in the lottery.
And his fit alongside Cameron Johnson's outside shooting and Nicolas Claxton's rim running isn't hard to imagine.
For the Celtics, of course, this makes the team significantly worse in the short term. Cam Thomas probably wouldn't even finish in Boston whatever contract he'd sign to make this happen. Noah Clowney's at least a flier for the frontcourt.
What this is really about, again, is the savings. Brown is set to make nearly $65 million in 2028-29. Getting out of that deal, picking up multiple firsts and getting out of the dreaded second-apron territory are valuable things.
Of course, some other organization could very easily beat this package in terms of players and picks (without the help with the apron). And that might force Brooklyn to up the ante a bit with more draft capital or young talent.
But the philosophy is sound.
Derrick White to the Up-and-Coming Pistons
2 of 7
Derrick White and Baylor Scheierman for Jaden Ivey, a top-10 protected 2027 first-round pick and a top-5 protected 2029 first-round pick
The Detroit Pistons are ready to win now, and Derrick White gets them closer to contention than Jaden Ivey does.
He's also proven throughout his time with the Celtics that he's capable of playing on or off the ball. Lineups with both him and Cade Cunningham can work offensively. And White's defense would fit right in with Detroit's gritty approach on that end.
The asking price may seem steep, but White is one of the best two-way players in the league, there are decent protections on the picks and Detroit has already proven it's ready to start adding veterans.
For the Celtics, this beefs up the asset base for future trades or gives the team some swings on potential in a few years. Ivey is seven years younger than White. And he showed plenty of potential with the Pistons before suffering his own season-ending injury earlier in 2024-25.
Jrue Holiday Stabilizes the Magic
3 of 7
Jrue Holiday for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Gary Harris, Cory Joseph and a 2027 first-round pick swap
If the Celtic shop Jrue Holiday, it'll be interesting to see what kind of trade value he has.
He turns 35 in June, just averaged 11.1 points with a below-average three-point percentage this season and is set to make at least $32 million in each of the next three seasons.
He isn't likely to go for much of a haul, but the Orlando Magic are one team that could justify ponying up at least a pick swap.
The idea of the Franz Wagner- and Paolo Banchero-led offense is cool, but this season demonstrated they could use a steady-handed floor general, and Holiday is still that.
He's not quite the defender he was in his prime, but he'd fit in with Orlando's approach on that end, too.
For the Celtics, each of the deals coming back is shorter than Holiday's. That opens up some flexibility down the road. And if anyone is willing to give up any draft capital for Holiday, at this point, Boston will have to think about it.
Kristaps PorziÅÄ£is Gives L.A. a Center
4 of 7
Kristaps PorziÅÄ£is for Rui Hachimura, Maxi Kleber, a 2030 first-round pick swap and a 2032 first-round pick swap
The playoffs and last couple months of Kristaps PorziÅÄ£is' 2024-25 campaign was completely derailed by a virus, but the healthy KP remains one of the best and most versatile big men in the league.
And while the PorziÅÄ£is/Luka DonÄiÄ duo didn't quite jell with the Dallas Mavericks, both have likely been humbled a bit by the last few years. And chasing a title alongside LeBron James could have them more focused on that than on who gets the credit for the success.
More to the point, the Los Angeles Lakers just need a real center. PorziÅÄ£is provides shot blocking, floor spacing and the occasional post-up. And he'd be a dramatic upgrade over Jaxson Hayes.
For Boston, this one isn't as much about financial flexibility. PorziÅÄ£is' deal expires after 2025-26, but draft assets are valuable. And Rui Hachimura would give them a slightly younger forward than KP, who could theoretically fit alongside Tatum in positionless forward combinations (assuming the Celtics were to sign him beyond this season).
Sam Hauser Spaces the Floor for the Spurs
5 of 7
Sam Hauser for Julian Champagnie, Malaki Branham and three second-round picks
Imagine for just a moment that the San Antonio Spurs are able to pull off the heist of the summer by combining the No. 2 pick they just secured in the lottery with some other firsts and plenty of salary to go get Giannis Antetokounmpo.
He, Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox would instantly be one of the best and most interesting trios in the league, but they'd need to be surrounded by plenty of shooting. And Sam Hauser would certainly check that box.
Even after a strong offer for Giannis, San Antonio would have more than enough to go get him, too. It's sitting on a mountain of second-rounders and could justify giving up one or two more than other teams could.
Another Point Guard Option for Orlando
6 of 7
Payton Pritchard for Jett Howard, Tristan da Silva and the No. 16 pick in 2025
Payton Pritchard seems like one of the least likely Celtics to be moved this summer.
He'll still be in his prime whenever Tatum is healthy again, just broke out with a Sixth Man of the Year season and is on one of the best value contracts in the league. It runs through 2027-28, when he'll make just $8.3 million.
But if some team were willing to part with an unprotected first and some young talent for him, Boston might blink.
Jett Howard has yet to show much of the shooting that got him drafted in the first round in 2023, but he's only 21 years old and has good size (at 6'8") for a wing. Tristan da Silva looks like he could develop into a bona fide three-level scorer and playmaking forward.
And of course, the 2025 pick would instantly give Boston another cost-controlled contract for the next four years.
A Hail Mary for Cooper Flagg
7 of 7
Given the appropriate reaction to his mind-boggling Luka DonÄiÄ deal, Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison can't possibly trade the No. 1 pick, right?
Surely, there's nothing short of maybe Giannis Antetokounmpo that could get him headed down that road. And maybe even that wouldn't be enough.
But Boston may not be too worried about that. The Celtics reportedly interviewed the presumed top pick, Cooper Flagg, at the draft combine this week.
And if Dallas is already going to be waiting out Kyrie Irving's ACL recovery for most (if not all) of 2025-26, so why not wait out another star?
Dallas can piece together enough outgoing salary to get to Tatum's number. And the No. 1 pick is the only draft asset that would need to be involved.
After shortening their window to compete for titles, they could shorten it again with a deal like this, but Kyrie, Tatum and AD would be a heck of a trio in 2026-27.
It sounds absurd, but nothing is fully off the table with Nico.
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=480 "Sports Betting Arrests Basketball")
