The Boston Celtics continued their dramatic roster shake-up by just lately buying and selling Georges Niang to the Utah Jazz. That transfer, in and of itself, will not make a dent on the court docket, however it’s simply the newest in a sequence 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 skilled 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 have a look at their entrance court docket. It is downright tragic, with their middle rotation arguably being the worst within the league. That is after buying and selling Kristaps Porzingis and seeing Luke Kornet and Al Horford depart 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 crew disappoints.
The Celtics’ penny-pinching simply made them considerably worse
The Leastern Convention—excuse me, I meant the Japanese Convention is up for grabs with the expertise degree taking successful. Nonetheless, as presently constructed, it is onerous to think about the Celtics making noise with out revamping their crew.
That’s simpler mentioned than performed with them making strikes to save cash and unlikely to make strikes to enhance their roster that might tackle wage. The most effective-case situation for the Celtics subsequent season would possible be for them to make the playoffs, get a positive seed, and possibly win a spherical if all the things 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 probably the most engaging route, however it’s the very best one for all of them issues thought of with their greatest participant out for all of subsequent season. The worst case is that they’re a play-in crew 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 yr to start to appear like himself. Both method, the Celtics are a spot yr subsequent season. Be that as it might, their offseason strikes had been much more drastic than many anticipated them to make. That leaves subsequent season up within the air so far as potential outcomes for Boston.
