The confetti from their 2024 championship had barely been swept away before the Boston Celtics’ dynasty was dismantled. After a stunning fourth-quarter collapse in their season opener, a new report suggests the fall from grace is far from over. With Jayson Tatum sidelined and the team facing financial pressure, the Celtics are now projected to become sellers, with key players like Anfernee Simons and Sam Hauser potentially on the trade block before the February deadline.
Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics
The Financial Driver: Chasing the Tax Line
The primary motive behind this potential sell-off isn’t just a slow start; it’s cold, hard financial calculus. According to Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey, the Celtics are currently “within $12.1 million of ducking the luxury tax.”
For a team that may be headed for a “sub-.500 season” without its superstar, the business incentive to get below that tax threshold and avoid punitive repeater taxes is powerful. Bailey notes that if the losses pile up, the front office “might well chase it,” making cost-cutting the priority over a futile playoff push.
The Potential Casualties: Simons and Hauser
Anfernee Simons: The talented scoring guard was acquired in the Jrue Holiday trade but has always been seen as a potential trade chip rather than a long-term cornerstone. His scoring punch would be attractive to contending teams, making him a prime candidate to be moved for future assets or to simply shed his salary.
Sam Hauser: This is the more surprising name. The sharpshooter was a key part of the title run and just started a four-year, $45 million deal. However, his team-friendly contract also makes him a valuable and tradeable asset for a Celtics team looking to reset its books.
The Big Picture: A Calculated Step Back
This isn’t a panic move; it’s a pragmatic one. The Celtics were likely facing a roster crunch even if Tatum were healthy. His devastating injury simply accelerated the timeline and made the decision to retool and avoid the luxury tax an easier one for President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens.
Trading players like Simons and Hauser would signal a clear-eyed acceptance of their current reality: this season is about development and financial flexibility, not competing for a title.
The path for the Boston Celtics is now one of painful but necessary patience. The potential trades of Anfernee Simons and Sam Hauser would mark the final stage of a dramatic teardown, closing the championship window that was so brilliantly open just months ago. For Celtics fans, the focus must shift from the present to the future: the development of their young core, the hopeful return of a healthy Jayson Tatum, and the strategic accumulation of assets that could one day launch the next great Celtics team. The front office is playing the long game, even if it’s a hard one to watch in the short term.