2025-26 Celtics Roster

[JBcat]

1. Porzingis + 2 future 1st rounders for Kessler + Sexton + Sensabaugh (6M savings, more on luxury tax; Utah gets back 2 firsts, and an expiring in KP who they could potentially deal at the trade deadline for more assets)

2. Dump Hauser to a team like Miami or Sacramento who could use a 3-point shooting specialist

3. Jrue Holiday + a second round pick to Dallas for Gafford + Hardy (might need a 3rd team to help with salary facilitation; ideally you save 5-10M - more in lux tax, and get the long term Horford replacement as well)

Overall, I do think Dallas and Utah are gonna be two of the popular teams that a deal can be done with. Jrue makes a lot of sense in Dallas with Kyrie's situation as well, and their need for a defensive guard. And Utah has a mix of cap space, assets and picks to facilitate something. Some other teams like Houston, Detroit and Orlando could be options as well given their needs and status as being playoff teams close to true contention.

I really like 1 and 3.

Kessler could be our long term answer at center, Sexton though I?m not the biggest fan can help fill a scoring role, and a sneaky get is Sensabaugh. A dead eye shooter with a herky jerky professional scoring style. It was really only a question with his knees that resulted in him falling in his draft class.

Gafford could help provide long term big man depth. He?s solid. Hardy could be another sneaky get. He fell out of favor last season, but the year before was a rotation player for the Mavs in the finals against us. Kid can score, just needs to shore up other parts of his game. We could be buying low with him.

[Neurotic Guy]

Thought that will keep me up at night -
6 months ago the Celtics were a perennial contender likely for 3-5 years. Lakers looked stuck in better than mediocre land.  Today the Lakers are looking like a contender over the next couple of years and Celtics are a huge question mark.

What Brad does this off-season has to take into account the likelihood (or not) that Tatum returns in spring 2026.  If that seems unlikely, I think he?s going for much bigger changes. 

[slightly biased bias fan]

Most likely scenario is that they run everything back. The only variable would be if the new ownership wants to dump salary or not.

Stevens and the rest of the front office seem like pretty conservative decision makers. They base their decisions on statistics, and that model would say, when health this Celtics team is favourite to come out of the East.

[Birdman]

I really don?t see any changes next season..get Porzingus back healthy and Brown knee fix?if Al retires and if we get medical money where Tatum is out Celtics can get couple of free agents hopefully cheap

[tazzmaniac]

Most likely scenario is that they run everything back. The only variable would be if the new ownership wants to dump salary or not.

Stevens and the rest of the front office seem like pretty conservative decision makers. They base their decisions on statistics, and that model would say, when health this Celtics team is favourite to come out of the East.

That's not a variable.  That's a certainty.  They're not going to pay nearly 500M in salary and taxes. 

[aefgogreen]

I think the best move is to run in it back this year.  From what I've read, the only team we could theoretically trade KP to without taking back salary is Brooklyn.  I'm guessing they won't want to take him on unless we include picks, and I don't think right now is the best time to trade first rounders.  We could trade him to another team and take salary back, but we wouldn't be able to get under the apron and would probably be stuck with another contract.  If we keep KP for the year, his entire salary can roll off the books.  As for Holiday, I think people are more optimistic than I am about what we could get for him.  He has 3 years and a lot left on his deal.  He's not getting any younger or better.  If we hold  onto him for the year, his deal might look a lot better to suiters.  As for Hauser, his contract is good and he's shot well from 3 every year we've had him.  Even if he doesn't put up a ton, teams still have to respect him.  He can hold his own in our defensive system.  Plus, I'm still not sold on Scheierman.  I saw something one that said you shouldn't make a decision until you have to.  We don't need to trade these guys right away.  If we decide to later, it won't be any harder.  I know Chisolm must be concerned about our salary situation, but I don't think there are a lot of moves to make it that much better.  Certainly not at the expense of our future.

[ozgod]

I think you pay the tax and keep the team together if you believe Tatum has a chance of returning late in the season. This could be a Championship team next year.

If Tatum was definitely out for the season, then yes I would trim the salary and get below the 2nd apron. Not worth paying the tax for a team with no Championship ambitions. Start retooling. Move on from older players (Jrue) and perhaps oft-injured players (Zinger) and retool around Tatum, Jaylen and D White. For a new Championship contention window starting 2026-27.

Getting below the 2nd apron and getting under the tax next season would be 2 different things - to get under the 2nd apron we need to shed approx. $20m in payroll, to get under the tax would be $40m. Getting under the apron is doable without drastically changing the roster, and it would make it easier for them to get under the tax in 2026 when KP's contract comes off the books (assuming he doesn't get extended at a lower number this offseason).

[celticinorlando]

Brad is going to try to move Jrue. Hauser is 100 percent gone. They keep KP because they need a big and if they need to move him they can at the deadline. And honestly KP has no value right now other than being an ending contract.

Al is going to retire.

JT and JB coming off major surgeries. Think they get the exception for Tatum. He should not play next year giving him 18 months to recover. They will be very careful with JB and I would be in no rush to play him either.

Next year is a wash. Bottom out if you can. Problem is the East is horrible so that is going to be hard.

[slightly biased bias fan]

Brad is going to try to move Jrue. Hauser is 100 percent gone. They keep KP because they need a big and if they need to move him they can at the deadline.

Al is going to retire.

JT and JB coming off major surgeries.

Next year is a wash. Bottom out if you can. Problem is the East is horrible so that is going to be hard.

Brown has a partial meniscus tear, he could easily be ready for opening game of the 2025-26 season.

Tatum could be back in 9 months, that would be February 2026.

There is no reason to throw away a season when your stars are healthy for the playoffs.

[tazzmaniac]

I think the best move is to run in it back this year.  From what I've read, the only team we could theoretically trade KP to without taking back salary is Brooklyn.  I'm guessing they won't want to take him on unless we include picks, and I don't think right now is the best time to trade first rounders.  We could trade him to another team and take salary back, but we wouldn't be able to get under the apron and would probably be stuck with another contract.  If we keep KP for the year, his entire salary can roll off the books.  As for Holiday, I think people are more optimistic than I am about what we could get for him.  He has 3 years and a lot left on his deal.  He's not getting any younger or better.  If we hold  onto him for the year, his deal might look a lot better to suiters.  As for Hauser, his contract is good and he's shot well from 3 every year we've had him.  Even if he doesn't put up a ton, teams still have to respect him.  He can hold his own in our defensive system.  Plus, I'm still not sold on Scheierman.  I saw something one that said you shouldn't make a decision until you have to.  We don't need to trade these guys right away.  If we decide to later, it won't be any harder.  I know Chisolm must be concerned about our salary situation, but I don't think there are a lot of moves to make it that much better.  Certainly not at the expense of our future.

I've also read that Brooklyn is the only team that can take KP without sending back salary.  If true, that's got to be under serious consideration.  However, I've tried it in a couple trade machines and the trade failed. 

[celticinorlando]

Brad is going to try to move Jrue. Hauser is 100 percent gone. They keep KP because they need a big and if they need to move him they can at the deadline.

Al is going to retire.

JT and JB coming off major surgeries.

Next year is a wash. Bottom out if you can. Problem is the East is horrible so that is going to be hard.

Brown has a partial meniscus tear, he could easily be ready for opening game of the 2025-26 season.

Tatum could be back in 9 months, that would be February 2026.

There is no reason to throw away a season when
both your star players should be 100% for the playoffs.

No way they throw JT into the fire of the playoffs by coming back in Feb and 9 months would be a generous recover time. They are not a contender so why even risk him by pushing to get back so soon?

JB will play next season but there would be no need to rush him back. They aren't winning the title next season so is just making the playoffs the goal?

Even besides these two injuries, the roster could look very watered down with cap issues.

I am all for running it back with a few changes by not sending everyone that isn't PP, JB, JT and White out. I'd like to keep Jrue and give him more of a prominent role. Love to keep KP and see if they can get one healthy season out of him.

Just don't think the owners are going to pay that tax for a team that really has very little chance of contending for a title.

[JBcat]

Brad is going to try to move Jrue. Hauser is 100 percent gone. They keep KP because they need a big and if they need to move him they can at the deadline. And honestly KP has no value right now other than being an ending contract.

Al is going to retire.

JT and JB coming off major surgeries. Think they get the exception for Tatum. He should not play next year giving him 18 months to recover. They will be very careful with JB and I would be in no rush to play him either.

Next year is a wash. Bottom out if you can. Problem is the East is horrible so that is going to be hard.

It?s an interesting question if we consider next year a wash and how it plays out in the East. The Bucks could quickly bottom out if they trade Giannis. The 76rs on the other hand could quickly rebound having a top pick this season and better health though I don?t trust Embiid?s health and George will be 35. The Nets, Hornets, and Wizards, are clear bottom feeders though each to varying degrees have some nice young talent to build on, and possibly a handful more wins than this past season. The Raptors have just enough talent to not bottom out, the Heat and Bulls seem stable enough to stay roughly around .500.

I mean without Tatum and Brown most of the year it could get ugly fast. Maybe we?d be competing with 3 or 4 teams in the east to truly tank. It wouldn?t be the worse thing in the world as the top of next years draft is very strong, and Tatum and Brown are young enough to continue their run in 26/27.

[celticinorlando]

Brad is going to try to move Jrue. Hauser is 100 percent gone. They keep KP because they need a big and if they need to move him they can at the deadline. And honestly KP has no value right now other than being an ending contract.

Al is going to retire.

JT and JB coming off major surgeries. Think they get the exception for Tatum. He should not play next year giving him 18 months to recover. They will be very careful with JB and I would be in no rush to play him either.

Next year is a wash. Bottom out if you can. Problem is the East is horrible so that is going to be hard.

It?s an interesting question if we consider next year a wash and how it plays out in the East. The Bucks could quickly bottom out if they trade Giannis. The 76rs on the other hand could quickly rebound having a top pick this season and better health though I don?t trust Embiid?s health and George will be 35. The Nets, Hornets, and Wizards, are clear bottom feeders though each to varying degrees have some nice young talent to build on, and possibly a handful more wins than this past season. The Raptors have just enough talent to not bottom out, the Heat and Bulls seem stable enough to stay roughly around .500.

I mean without Tatum and Brown most of the year it could get ugly fast. Maybe we?d be competing with 3 or 4 teams in the east to truly tank. It wouldn?t be the worse thing in the world as the top of next years draft is very strong, and Tatum and Brown are young enough to continue their run in 26/27.

It is how San Antonio became a dynasty...

[Vermont Green]

OK, starting to come around to "what next" or "now what"?  The team is going to get under the 2nd apron, they have signaled that clearly.  The only question is whether they do it for 2025-26 or for 2026-27.  I see a couple of points of inflection that will impact how and when they make more serious salary/roster changes:

1.  Is it realistic to expect Tatum back for the 2026 playoffs?
2.  Can you get more for players in the off season or the trade deadline?

Of course no one knows the answers to these for sure but I think (1) is probably not and (2) is it depends.  Because it is way too early to know either, my prediction is that they do not do major changes this off season and play a wait and see.  They can probably get the same or more for Porzingis or Holiday at the trade deadline, so why not wait and see how things go.  Same for Hauser.  Those are the 3 contracts that are most likely in play to just get salary back under control and then build back around Tatum and Brown.

The other route is to go into full retool mode this off season.  To me, this means trade Brown for a boat load of top picks and/or young players.  If you are going to trade Brown, I see that happening this off season, not at the trade deadline.  He is more of a foundation piece for the trade partner than Holiday or Porzingis.  The latter are good trade deadline pick ups for a team trying to break through or fill a need for a playoff run.  Brown is something different/more than that.

That all said, I think anything is possible, nothing will be off the table.  Tatum will be 28 for the start of the 2026-27 season.  He should have 5 more good seasons as an elite player at least.  I don't think you can expect him back for next season but I think you have to assume he will be back for the season after, you have to plan based on that (but even that is not certain).  I am OK with trading Brown for the right deal.  I am OK with lesser deals to get under the 2nd Apron.  I have accepted that some players I like will be heading out.

[jambr380]

https://medium.com/@rbernardoni/celtics-2025-offseason-preview-24a2d17e9d2a

Great read by Ryan Bernardoni, aka, dangercart about some of the obstacles we are facing this offseason and the realities of our situation moving forward. Can't always say that Ryan is the most optimistic read, but he has always been incredibly informative through the years