Boston Celtics fans are holding their breath, hoping Brad Stevens doesn’t follow the shocking playbook of Dallas Mavericks GM Nico Harrison, who traded superstar Luka Doncic just months after a Finals loss to Boston. With Shams Charania reporting that the Celtics are poised for major changes this offseason, the NBA is bracing for a trade-heavy summer. The Celtics, staring down a $19.9 million overrun of the second tax apron, face tough choices to avoid crippling financial penalties. With Jayson Tatum sidelined for the 2025-26 season due to Achilles surgery, Stevens may be forced to consider the unthinkable: trading a superstar.
The Celtics’ roster is at a crossroads. Staying above the second apron limits their ability to make moves, and with Tatum likely missing the entire season, paying a historic luxury tax bill for a non-contending year makes little sense. Fans dream of Tatum and Jaylen Brown as lifelong Celtics, but the NBA’s cutthroat financial landscape may force Stevens’ hand. Trading either Tatum or Brown could mirror Harrison’s bold move with Doncic—a heartbreaking but strategic reset to gain draft capital, a star player, and financial flexibility.
Jrue Holiday is the most likely candidate to be moved as Boston looks to trim costs, but nothing is off the table. Tatum, despite his injury, remains a top-tier asset with a strong market, and Brown, the 2024 Finals MVP, is a proven top-25 player. A blockbuster trade could net a massive haul, allowing Boston to retool around a new core and stay competitive in 2026. Teams across the league, sensing a wide-open title race, will come calling with offers too tempting to ignore.
The Celtics’ current payroll, without new deals for Al Horford, Luke Kornet, or Torrey Craig, already pushes them deep into the second apron. Even filling out the roster with minimum contracts would lead to unprecedented financial strain. A trade could provide breathing room, but it would come at a steep emotional cost. Fans still reel from the idea of losing Tatum or Brown, just as Mavericks fans are grappling with Doncic’s departure. A “godfather” offer—similar to what Dallas secured for Doncic—could force Stevens to act, even if it devastates the fanbase.
Boston’s front office faces a brutal reality: a gap year may be inevitable without drastic action. Trading a superstar could be their last desperate shot at survival, ensuring long-term flexibility and competitiveness. While Celtics fans pray Stevens avoids Harrison’s ruthless strategy, the NBA’s second apron era leaves little room for sentimentality. Only time will tell if Boston can escape this financial bind without shattering the heart of its loyal fanbase.