The Boston Celtics, fresh off their 2024 NBA championship, are facing a financial and roster crisis that could reshape their future. The new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) has hit the team with unprecedented penalties due to their position above the second apron of the luxury tax for the 2024-25 season. According to Brian Robb of MassLive, the early exit of the Celtics in the second round of the playoffs against the New York Knicks has triggered severe consequences, both financially and in terms of trade flexibility.
The most immediate penalty is the “freezing” of Boston’s 2032 first-round draft pick. This means the pick cannot be traded for at least the next three years. For a team accustomed to leveraging future assets for roster improvements, this restriction is a significant blow. The pick can only be “unfrozen” and become tradable again at the start of the 2028-29 league year if the Celtics manage to stay under the second apron in at least three of the next four seasons—a tall order given their current payroll.
The new CBA’s punitive measures are designed to deter teams from consistently exceeding the luxury tax threshold, but the severity of this punishment has shocked the NBA universe. Boston’s willingness to spend big to maintain a championship-caliber roster has been a hallmark of their recent success, but the inability to trade a draft pick seven years in the future feels like an excessively harsh consequence for their financial strategy.
Adding to the Celtics’ woes are significant health concerns for their star players. Five-time All-NBA power forward Jayson Tatum is expected to miss most or all of the 2025-26 season due to injury, a devastating blow to the team’s on-court performance. Four-time All-Star small forward Jaylen Brown played through the playoffs with a meniscus tear that may require surgery, raising questions about his availability moving forward. Center Kristaps Porzingis, meanwhile, has been battling lingering viral symptoms from a March infection, which some speculate could be consistent with Long COVID, though no official diagnosis has been confirmed. His long-term health remains uncertain, adding further complexity to Boston’s planning.
The Knicks just eliminated the Celtics. pic.twitter.com/LnKCrQlYGy
— KnicksMuse (@KnicksMuse) May 17, 2025
The Celtics have posted back-to-back 60-plus win seasons with a formidable starting lineup featuring two-time All-Defensive Team guard Derrick White, six-time All-Defensive Team guard Jrue Holiday, Brown, Tatum, and Porzingis. However, the team’s astronomical payroll has put them in a precarious position. With the luxury tax bill for the 2025-26 season projected to be historically high, the NBA expects Boston to pursue major trades to alleviate the financial burden.
Players like Holiday, Porzingis, sharpshooting reserve forward Sam Hauser, and even core pieces like White and Brown—arguably the team’s third- and second-best players—could be on the trading block this summer. The Celtics are being forced to think long-term, balancing their championship aspirations with the harsh realities of the new CBA. As they navigate these challenges, the organization must make tough decisions to ensure sustainable success while grappling with injuries and financial penalties that threaten to derail their dynasty.