What’s the holdup? Lull in Celtics’ offseason hints at additional moves originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
According to the NBA’s list of official roster transactions, the Boston Celtics have made just one move since mid-April: signing 2025 first-round pick Hugo Gonzalez to his rookie-scale contract.
We know what you’re thinking: What about that Jrue Holiday trade with the Portland Trail Blazers? What about the three-team deal that sent Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks? And what about the reported signings of Luka Garza and Josh Minott in free agency?
Those trades and signings were all agreed to, per multiple reports, but as of Monday, none of those transactions have been made official, despite teams being able to announce such moves beginning at noon ET on Sunday, July 6, when the NBA’s new league year officially began.
So, what’s the delay here? Why haven’t we gotten introductory press conferences for Anfernee Simons (acquired in the Holiday trade) or Georges Niang (acquired in the Porzingis trade) — or at least confirmation that these deals are complete?
The most likely explanation is that more moves are coming.
By agreeing to trade both Holiday and Porzingis — who are set to make a combined $63.1 million next season — and letting Luke Kornet join the San Antonio Spurs in free agency, the Celtics appeared to signal a mini roster reset, with the goal of getting under the second apron of the NBA’s luxury tax while superstar Jayson Tatum misses most or all of 2025-26 due to an Achilles injury.
But if you factor in the additions of Garza and Minott, the C’s technically would be over the second apron if they made all of their reported moves official, with $208.5 million committed in salary for 2025-26.
Since it’s unlikely that Boston would enter next season as a second apron team without a legitimate shot at title contention, the Celtics need to make at least one more move to dip below that $207.8 million threshold.
And while the C’s technically could lop off less than $1 million to accomplish that goal, it’s possible they could make a more significant move to cut costs, either to get under the first apron ($195.9 million) or get out of the luxury tax entirely ($187.9 million).
Boston’s quickest pathway to cutting salary is rerouting Simons, who is set to make $27.7 million in 2025-26 on an expiring contract. The current construction of the Celtics-Blazers trade has Holiday going to Portland in return for Simons and two second-round picks, but since the deal hasn’t been announced yet, Boston could expand the trade to find a third team to take on Simons’ contract.
The same goes for Niang, who is set to make $8.2 million on an expiring contract but could be rerouted for additional savings as well.
Cost-cutting aside, the Celtics also have an unbalanced depth chart at the moment. Assuming Al Horford departs in free agency, Boston’s frontcourt will consist of Neemias Queta, Garza, Xavier Tillman Sr. and rookie Amari Williams. With Derrick White and Payton Pritchard holding down the backcourt, it would make sense for the C’s to flip Simons for a big man, or if they can’t find any takers for Simons, consider moving Niang or Sam Hauser for a low-cost center.
Between the Celtics’ current financial situation and their need for frontcourt help, all signs point to president of basketball operations Brad Stevens pushing over at least one more domino to set the wheels in motion on making the team’s pending moves official.
What’s the holdup? Lull in Celtics’ offseason hints at additional moves
Brad Stevens likely isn’t done overhauling the roster.
According to the NBA’s list of official roster transactions, the Boston Celtics have made just one move since mid-April: signing 2025 first-round pick Hugo Gonzalez to his rookie-scale contract.
We know what you’re thinking: What about that Jrue Holiday trade with the Portland Trail Blazers? What about the three-team deal that sent Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks? And what about the reported signings of Luka Garza and Josh Minott in free agency?
Those trades and signings were all agreed to, per multiple reports, but as of Monday, none of those transactions have been made official, despite teams being able to announce such moves beginning at noon ET on Sunday, July 6, when the NBA’s new league year officially began.
SIGN UP HERE So, what’s the delay here? Why haven’t we gotten introductory press conferences for Anfernee Simons (acquired in the Holiday trade) or Georges Niang (acquired in the Porzingis trade) — or at least confirmation that these deals are complete?
The most likely explanation is that more moves are coming.
MORE CELTICS COVERAGE
By agreeing to trade both Holiday and Porzingis — who are set to make a combined $63.1 million next season — and letting Luke Kornet join the San Antonio Spurs in free agency, the Celtics appeared to signal a mini roster reset, with the goal of getting under the second apron of the NBA’s luxury tax while superstar Jayson Tatum misses most or all of 2025-26 due to an Achilles injury.
But if you factor in the additions of Garza and Minott, the C’s technically would be over the second apron if they made all of their reported moves official, with $208.5 million committed in salary for 2025-26.
Since it’s unlikely that Boston would enter next season as a second apron team without a legitimate shot at title contention, the Celtics need to make at least one more move to dip below that $207.8 million threshold.
And while the C’s technically could lop off less than $1 million to accomplish that goal, it’s possible they could make a more significant move to cut costs, either to get under the first apron ($195.9 million) or get out of the luxury tax entirely ($187.9 million).
Boston’s quickest pathway to cutting salary is rerouting Simons, who is set to make $27.7 million in 2025-26 on an expiring contract. The current construction of the Celtics-Blazers trade has Holiday going to Portland in return for Simons and two second-round picks, but since the deal hasn’t been announced yet, Boston could expand the trade to find a third team to take on Simons’ contract.
The same goes for Niang, who is set to make $8.2 million on an expiring contract but could be rerouted for additional savings as well.
Cost-cutting aside, the Celtics also have an unbalanced depth chart at the moment. Assuming Al Horford departs in free agency, Boston’s frontcourt will consist of Neemias Queta, Garza, Xavier Tillman Sr. and rookie Amari Williams. With Derrick White and Payton Pritchard holding down the backcourt, it would make sense for the C’s to flip Simons for a big man, or if they can’t find any takers for Simons, consider moving Niang or Sam Hauser for a low-cost center.
Between the Celtics’ current financial situation and their need for frontcourt help, all signs point to president of basketball operations Brad Stevens pushing over at least one more domino to set the wheels in motion on making the team’s pending moves official.
