The Boston Celtics continued their dramatic roster shake-up by lately buying and selling Georges Niang to the Utah Jazz. That transfer, in and of itself, will not make a dent on the courtroom, however it’s simply the newest in a collection of strikes to slash their luxurious tax invoice.
Roughly $300M in wage plus taxes. https://t.co/ZWQyPUfuCs
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) August 5, 2025
In accordance with NBA cap knowledgeable Keith Smith, they saved greater than $300 million, with the Niang transfer serving to them attain that quantity. Whereas the Celtics have slashed payroll in half, they’ve additionally gutted their roster.
Simply take a look at their entrance courtroom. It is downright tragic, with their heart rotation arguably being the worst within the league. That is after buying and selling Kristaps Porzingis and seeing Luke Kornet and Al Horford go away in free company.
Making main strikes to chop wage was partly warranted, seeing as how the Celtics could not afford to maintain all of these championship items collectively for years at a time. Particularly with the repeater tax. However, that most likely is not going to consolation Celtics followers if and when subsequent season’s staff disappoints.
The Celtics’ penny-pinching simply made them considerably worse
The Leastern Convention—excuse me, I meant the Jap Convention is up for grabs with the expertise stage taking successful. Nonetheless, as at present constructed, it is exhausting to think about the Celtics making noise with out revamping their staff.
That’s simpler mentioned than executed with them making strikes to economize and unlikely to make strikes to enhance their roster that will tackle wage. The very best-case state of affairs for the Celtics subsequent season would probably be for them to make the playoffs, get a good seed, and perhaps win a spherical if every little thing goes their method.
Then, they’d get Jayson Tatum again and pair him with a hopefully leveled-up Jaylen Brown in addition to Derrick White. Then Boston can see what’s what post-Tatum Achilles tear.
That is not essentially the most enticing route, but it surely’s the very best one for all of them issues thought-about with their greatest participant out for all of subsequent season. The worst case is that they’re a play-in staff and both miss the playoffs or get a low seed and get demolished within the first spherical.
Then, after subsequent season, Tatum returns however takes one other 12 months to start to appear to be himself. Both method, the Celtics are taking a look at a niche 12 months subsequent season. Be that as it could, their offseason strikes had been way more drastic than many anticipated them to make. That leaves subsequent season up within the air so far as potential outcomes for Boston.
