The Boston Celtics, even as the reigning NBA champions, may soon have to face the reality of the second apron.
Veteran NBA writer Jake Fischer reported to Substack this week that rival executives believe that the Celtics will eventually have to make a sizable trade in order to shed salary. Fischer further notes that the two big Boston salaries opposing teams are monitoring for this offseason are guard Jrue Holiday and big man Kristaps Porzingis.
Holiday, 34, and Porzingis, 29, are two former All-Stars who were each instrumental to the Celtics’ NBA title last season. But both have missed extended time this season due to injury and illness (with Holiday being limited to 56 games and Porzingis to a mere 37). Both players are also making over $30 million per year (with Holiday signed through 2028 and Porzingis through 2026).
The Celtics already have the two most expensive contracts in the NBA on their books right now with Jayson Tatum (five years and $314 million) and Jaylen Brown (five years and $285 million). That means that they are staring at a total bill (in both salary and luxury tax) of over $500 million … for just next season alone.
Further complicating matters is the Celtics’ ownership situation. Longtime owner Wyc Grousbeck recently reached an agreement to sell the team to billionaire businessman Bill Chisholm, and it is unclear exactly how much the new ownership group will be willing to spend (especially considering how much they are already spending to acquire the Celtics in the first place).
With Holiday and Porzingis presumably about to be on the trade block this offseason, it makes the latest Celtics rumor even more interesting. Earlier this week, they were linked to a superstar trade candidate whose contract will expire a bit sooner.
