The Boston Celtics’ season ended in heartbreak.
A second-round playoff exit for Boston was compounded by a devastating injury to Jayson Tatum.
As the team looks ahead to a challenging 2025-26 campaign, the Celtics’ front office faces critical decisions about reshaping the roster.
With financial pressures mounting and a potential gap year looming, the Celtics could consider trading key players.
Bleacher Report’s Mo Dakhil recently highlighted the Celtics’ predicament, noting the team’s financial constraints and the impact of Tatum’s injury.
“The Boston Celtics’ season ended in the worst way possible,” Dakhil wrote.
“They lost in the second round of the playoffs, and to add insult to injury, Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles tendon, putting them behind the curve for next season. Whether Boston won the title or not this season, it was always assumed changes were coming. The C’s were a second-apron team with an estimated tax bill of $52.5 million; they were always going to shed salary.”
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“The Tatum injury could change the calculus,” Dakhil continued. “Kristaps Porzingis and/or Jrue Holiday were likely on their way out before the injury. Now, the Celtics might look to be more aggressive, knowing that next season is looking like a gap year. That could mean moving Derrick White or Jaylen Brown.”
“To be clear, that is hypothetical; a team may offer the Celtics a Godfather-like deal for one of those players. With the C’s not contending for a title, it might be something they consider to set up the next few seasons. Even Porzingis or Holiday could change a team’s trajectory. Especially Holiday, who is still considered one of the best and most versatile defenders. Either way, the Celtics can make this offseason way more interesting if they decide to dig themselves out of the apron more than expected.”
As Dakhil noted, Tatum’s injury forces Boston to rethink its championship window.
The possibility of moving Derrick White or Jaylen Brown has emerged as an aggressive option.
White, a versatile guard known for his elite defense and playmaking; a blockbuster offer could net young talent or draft picks to rebuild around Tatum long-term. Brown, a 2024 NBA Finals MVP and four-time All-Star, would command an even higher return. His $53.1 salary next season makes him a prime candidate for salary relief, though trading him would be a controversial move.
Trading either player would be a gamble. White’s two-way reliability is hard to replace, while Brown’s star power is central to Boston’s identity.
Yet, with Tatum’s recovery timeline uncertain and the luxury tax looming, the Celtics may see a trade as a way to retool for 2026-27 and beyond.
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